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REPORT 


REGENTS’  BOUNDARY 


UPON  THE 


New  York  and  Pennsylvania  Boundary, 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH  NUMEROUS  MAPS  AND  SKETCHES. 


ALBANY: 

WEED,  PARSONS  AND  COMPANY, 

LEGISLATIVE  PRINTERS. 

1886. 


O 

b< 


{'  Lcl  ^ ^ * u)  • 
(\KM,  + ?( ' '■ vv>  a 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 


No.  71  . 


IN  SENATE, 

April  22,  1886. 


FINAL  REPORT 

OF  THE  COMMISSIONERS  ON  THE  BOUNDARY  LINE 
BETWEEN  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK  AND  THE  STATE 
OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


New  York  Boundary  Commission, 
Office  of  the  Commissioners, 
Albany,  April  22,  1886. 

To  the  Hon.  Edward  F.  Jones,  President  of  the  Senate : 

Sir  — On  behalf  of  the  Commissioners  on  the  Boundary  Lines 
between  the  State  of  New  York  and  the  States  of  New  Jersey  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  by  their  direction,  I have  the  honor  herewith  to 
transmit  to  the  Legislature  their  final  report  in  relation  to  the  sur- 
vey and  settlement  of  the  boundary  between  this  State  and  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  extending  from  a point  on  the  Delaware 
river,  near  Hale’s  Eddy,  to  Lake  Erie. 

Very  .respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

H.  R.  PIERSON, 

Chairman  of  Commission  on  part  of  New  Yorlc. 


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CON 


Page 


Report  of  the  Commissioners ti 

Copy  of  Final  Agreement 24 

Preliminary  Letter  of  Maj.  H.  W.  Clarke,  Surveyor  for  the  Joint  Com- 
mission   31 

Abstract  of  Contents  of  Report 34 

SURVEYOR’S  FINAL  REPORT. 

Preliminary 37 

Parallel  Boundary: 

Historical  Sketch . 40 

Establishment  of  Initial  Point,  1774 62 

Surveys  before  the  Boundary  was  fixed 73 

Official  Survey  of  1786-7 76 

Error  in  Revised  Statutes  of  N.  Y 97 

Early  Land  Surveys 101 

Joint  Reconnaissance  of  1877-9  under  the  present  Commission. . . . 123 

Final  Operations  of  1881-4  under  the  present  Commission 154 

Meridian  Boundary: 

Historical  Sketch  ....  175 

Surveys  and  Operations  under  the  present  Commission 204 

APPENDIX. 

A.  Laws  Relating  to  the  Re-survey  of  the  Boundary 212 

AA.  Instructions  to  the  Surveyors 219 

B.  Descriptive  Schedule  of  Monuments,  1881-5 222 

C.  Table  of  Distances  and  Deflection  Angles . 263 

D.  Astronomical  Stations  of  the  U.  S.  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey,  etc.  271 

E.  County  and  Town  Corners 280 

F.  Names  of  Commissioners  and  Persons  connected  with  the  Survey, 

1877-1885 286 

G.  George  Palmer’s  Papers  and  Surveys,  1774,  1784 291 

H.  Holland  Land  Company’s  Records  of  Surveys 313 

J.  Keating  Estate  Surveys 384 

K.  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  on  Ancient  Maps 390 

L.  Disputes  with  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts: 

The  Massachusetts  Claim  . . 402 

The  Connecticut  Claim  in  Pennsylvania 417 

The  Connecticut  Gore  in  New  York 429 

M.  The  Erie  Triangle 438 

N.  Maps  of  the  Boundary  showing  locations  of  New  Monuments 459 

Index 457 


[Note. — A detail  description  and  sketch  of  each  of  the  original  monuments  discovered,  will  be 
found  in  the  “Diary  of  Operations,”  filed  with  the  Official  Records  of  the  Commission  in  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  State. 

Reduced  copies  (half  size)  of  the  Maps  of  the  original  survey  of  1786-7  are  inserted  at  page  77.] 


REPORT 


To  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York : 

The  commissioners  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Regents  under 
authority  of  chapter  340  of  the  Laws  of  1880,  to  ascertain  and  re- 
store the  boundary  lines  between  the  State  of  New  York  and  the 
States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  respectively,  submit  their 
report  in  relation  to  the  final  establishment  and  re- marking  of  the 
boundary  line  between  the  States  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania, 
extending  from  a point  in  the  Delaware  river  near  Hale’s  Eddy,  to 
Lake  Erie. 

The  Regents  of  the  University  were  charged  by  the  Legislature 
in  1875  with  the  duty  of  “ an  examination  as  to  the  true  location  of 
the  monuments  which  mark  the  boundary,”  between  this  State  and 
New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania. 

The  execution  of  this  duty  was  intrusted,  by  order  of  the  board, 
to  a committee  consisting  of  the  late  Chancellor,  Mr.  Pruyn,  Mr. 
Pierson  and  Mr.  Perkins. 

On  the  decease  of  Mr.  Perkins  the  vacancy  was  filled  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  Mr.  Depew. 

The  authority  under  which  this  work  was  undertaken  is  derived 
from  the  provisions  of  chapter  424  of  the  Laws  of  1875,  which  law 
is  as  follows : 

An  Act  in  regard  to  the  boundary  monuments  of  the  State. 

Passed  May  26,  1875;  tliree-fiftlis  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  YorJc , represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly , do  enact  as  follows  : 

Section  1.  The  Regents  of  the  University  are  hereby  authorized 
and  directed  to  resume  the  work  of  u examination  as  to  the  true 
location  of  the  monuments  which  mark  the  several  boundaries  of  the 
State,”  as  authorized  by  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  April  nine- 
teenth, eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-seven,  and  in  connection  with 
the  authorities  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  respectively,  to  re- 
place any  monuments  which  have  become  dilapidated  or  been  re- 
moved on  the  boundary  lines  of  those  States. 


6 


[Senate 


§ 2.  The  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as 
may  be  necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated  for  expenses  of  renewing 
and  replacing  monuments,  and  for  contingent  expenses. 

§ 3.  The  Regents  shall  report  to  the  Legislature  on  the  progress 
of  this  work  with  an  account  of  all  expenditures. 

§ 4.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  1877,  the  committee  of  this  board  met  the 
commissioners  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  city  of  New  York,  for  the 
purpose  of  making  preliminary  arrangements  for  the  examination  of 
the  boundary  line  between  these  States. 

At  this  meeting  this  board  was  represented  by  John  Y.  L.  Pruyn, 
Chancellor,  Henry  R.  Pierson,  Chauncey  M.  Depew  and  S.  B.  Wool- 
worth,  Secretary. 

The  State  of  Pennsylvania,  by  James  Worrall,  Robert  N.  Tor- 
rey  and  C.  M.  Gere. 

After  some  time  spent  in  conversation  on  the  objects  proposed 
to  be  accomplished,  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  the  joint  commission  it  is 
expedient  that  a reconnaissance  of  the  boundary  line  between  the  two 
States  be  made  by  skilled  surveyors,  in  order  to  ascertain  what 
monuments  are  missing,  and  the  condition  of  those  that  remain,  with 
such  incidental  facts  as  may  be  desirable.  Also,  that  an  astronomical 
determination  be  made,  at  four  points  on  the  line,  to  ascertain  the 
due  location  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  of  the  forty-second  parallel 
of  latitude,  and  that  a report  in  writing  embracing  the  several  mat- 
ters aforesaid  be  made  to  the  commissioners. 

2.  Resolved , That  the  commissioners  of  each  State  appoint  or  em- 
ploy a competent  surveyor  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  and  that  the 
two  persons  thus  appointed  be  requested  to  co-operate  in  the  work  of 
the  survey. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  commissioners  respectfully  request  the  Su- 
perintendent of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey,  if  lie  can  con- 
veniently do  so,  to  make  the  determination  of  latitude  before  re- 
ferred to,  and  that  the  commissioners  will  pay  the  expenses  of  the 
officer  detailed  for  the  work  in  equal  proportions. 

4.  It  was  further  resolved  that  the  commissioners  of  each  State  fix 
the  compensation  of  its  surveyor,  and  provide  for  the  payment  of 
the  same.  Also,  that  the  surveyors  jointly  employ  such  chain,  flag 
and  axe-men  as  they  shall  deem  necessary,  and  at  such  compensation 
as  they  shall  consider  reasonable,  and  that  said  compensation  be  paid 
equally  by  the  two  States. 

The  commission  then  adjourned  subject  to  the  call  of  the  chair- 
man. 


No.  71.] 


7 


In  conformity  with  the  second  resolution,  II.  Wadsworth  Clarke, 
a civil  engineer  of  good  repute  of  Syracuse,  was  appointed  surveyor 
on  the  part  of  this  State. 

C.  M.  Gere,  of  Montrose,  Penn.,  one  of  the  Pennsylvania  com- 
missioners, was  appointed  surveyor  on  the  part  of  that  State. 

On  the  19th  of  June  the  joint  commission  met  at  Hale’s  Eddy, 
on  the  Delaware  river,  near  the  eastern  end  of  the  boundary  line. 

Here  in  1774,  two  monuments  were  placed  to  mark  the  parallel 
of  forty-two  degrees.  A most  thorough  search  for  these  monu- 
ments was  made,  but  neither  of  them  was  found.  This  caused  much 
embarrassment  to  the  surveyors.  They  were  obliged  to  proceed 
westward  until  they  found  mile  monuments,  and  then  to  run  back 
to  the  river,  and  thus  fix  as  nearly  as  possible  the  initial  point  of  the 
boundary  line.  This  having  been  done,  the  surveyors  retraced  the 
line  westward.  Some  of  the  monuments  were  found  unimpaired 
and  apparently  in  place ; others  were  broken,  some  had  evidently 
been  removed  from  their  original  position,  and  others  had  entirely 
disappeared.  The  line  was  found  to  be  very  irregular,  rarely  two 
monuments  aligning  with  a third. 

The  report  of  the  surveyor,  herewith  communicated,  with  the 
accompanying  maps,  shows  the  line  as  it  was  run  by  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  two  States  in  1786  and  1787,  as  nearly  as  can  now  be 
ascertained. 

This  northern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania  was  described  by  the 
charter  of  King  Charles  the  Second,  to  William  Penn,  under  date  of 
March  4,  1680,  as  on  the  parallel  of  forty-two  degrees,  north  lati- 
tude. Of  this  there  has  not,  at  any  time,  been  dispute.  The  pur- 
pose of  the  commissioners  of  1786  and  1787  was  to  run  a line  on 
this  parallel.  To  determine  its  position  they  made  astronomical  ob- 
servations, first  at  the  Delaware  river,  and  then  at  distances  of  about 
twenty  miles,  to  Lake  Erie.  The  instruments  used,  though  the  best 
which  could  then  be  obtained,  would  now  be  regarded  as  rude  and 
unreliable.  The  line  between  these  astronomical  stations  was  run 
by  the  compass,  subject  to  the  variations  of  the  magnetic  needle. 

These  methods  left  the  true  place  of  the  parallel  in  great  uncer- 
tainty. In  conformity  with  the  third  resolution  of  the  joint  com- 
mission, an  arrangement  was  made  with  the  Superintendent  of  the 
United  States  Coast  Survey,  by  which  four  points  on  that  parallel 
were  established,  with  all  the  accuracy  known  to  modem  science. 

As  the  surveyors  proceeded  with  their  work,  they  found  the  line 


8 


[Senate 


as  run  by  the  commissioners  of  1786  and  1787,  to  be,  in  some  places,, 
on  one  side  of  the  parallel,  and  in  someon  the  other,  its  greatest  vari- 
ation being  nearly  1,000  feet. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  these  deviations  exist,  though  less  posi- 
tive evil  results  from  them  than,  on  a cursory  view,  it  might  be  pre- 
sumed would  be  experienced.  The  Pennsylvania  commissioners  have 
been  understood  to  favor  the  change  of  the  monuments  to  the  par- 
allel, where  they  are  found  to  deviate  from  it.  The  law  which  pre- 
scribes the  power  of  this  board  gives  no  authority  to  do  this,  and 
against  it  there  are  grave  objections.  Such  change  will  involve 
change  of  jurisdiction  and  disturbance  of  the  records  of  titles.  It 
will  transfer  citizens  from  one  State,  with  whose  laws  and  usages 
they  are  familiar,  to  another,  whose  civil  polity  is  quite  different, 
and  may  be  even  repulsive. 

When  the  work  of  the  season  was  about  one-half  completed,  the 
committee  received  a proposal  from  the  commissioners  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, that  Mr.  Clarke,  the  surveyor  on  the  part  of  this  State,  should 
assume  its  entire  direction,  by  reason  of  the  impaired  health  of  Mr. 
Gere,  the  surveyor  on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  committee  saw  no  reason  for  declining  this  proposal,  and 
they  regarded  it  as  a very  gratifying  evidence  of  confidence  in  the 
ability  and  faithfulness  of  Mr.  Clarke. 

The  work  on  the  boundary  between  this  State  and  Pennsylvania, 
during  the  season  of  1877,  closed  at  the  119th  mile-stone. 

The  field  work  was  resumed  on  the  13th  of  June,  1878,  and  con- 
tinued, with  the  exception  of  about  fifteen  miles,  to  Lake  Erie, 
which  was  reached  on  the  28th  of  October.  The  part  omitted 
was  rough  and  uncultivated,  on  the  border  of  Cattaraugus  county. 
It  was  found  that  its  examination  would  occupy  so  much  time, 
that  if  it  was  made  the  other  part  of  the  line  could  not  be  com- 
pleted. It  was,  therefore,  determined  to  omit  it  until  another 
season. 

The  condition  of  the  monuments,  on  this  part  of  the  line,  was 
found  to  differ  not  materially  from  that  of  those  on  the  part  exam- 
ined in  1877. 

On  the  26th  day  of  June,  1879,  a meeting  of  the  joint  commis- 
sioners of  the  two  States  was  held  at  Clifton  Springs.  Cols.  Wor- 
rall  and  Gere  of  the  Pennsylvania  branch  of  the  commission  were 
present,  and  Regents  Leavenworth  and  Pierson  of  the  Regents’ 
Committee  appeared  in  behalf  of  this  State,  accompanied  by  Assist- 


No.  71.] 


9 


\ 

ant  Secretary  Pratt  and  Surveyor  Clarke.  At  this  meeting,  the 
account  current  between  the  two  States  was  settled,  and  the  plan  of 
operation  for  the  season  was  substantially  arranged.  This  was  to 
include  the  reconnaissance  of  about  fifteen  miles  of  line  between 
Cattaraugus  and  McKean  counties,  omitted  the  previous  year,  and  a 
review  of  the  work  of  1877,  between  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna 
rivers.  At  the  solicitation  of  the  Pennsylvania  commissioners,  it  was 
also  agreed,  in  case  satisfactory  arrangements  could  be  made  with  the 
officers  of  the  U.  S.  Coast  Survey,  that  a number  of  latitude  deter- 
minations, additional  to  those  of  1877,  should  be  made  for  the  pur- 
pose of  showing  to  what  extent  the  line  westward  from  the  Delaware 
river  corresponds,  or  fails  to  correspond,  with  its  original  description, 
as  being  along  the  astronomical  parallel  of  forty-two  degrees  of  north 
latitude.  The  proposals  made  by  the  officers  of  the  Coast  Survey 
were  accepted  after  a careful  consideration  as  to  the  propriety  and 
importance  of  these  latitude  determinations,  and  the  work  was 
accomplished  at  considerably  less  than  the  authorized  expense. 

In  the  progress  of  the  work  of  ascertaining  the  position  of  the 
ancient  monuments,  two  facts  were  established:  First,  that  many 
monuments  were  lost  or  their  exact  location  not  positively  ascertain- 
able ; and  second , that  the  line  of  the  boundary  as  traced  on  the 
earth  was  not  a straight  line,  that  is,  that  every  monument  was  not 
on  the  parallel. 

The  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  de- 
sired to  change  the  old  line  to  a straight  line,  if  possible.  The  com- 
missioners on  the  part  of  New  York  held  that  they  had  no  power 
to  make  the  change,  and  that  the  line  established  by  the  commission 
of  1771,  1786  and  1787was  now  the  true  line. 

The  following  correspondence  took  place  : 

Office  of  the  N.  and  W.  Boundary  Commissions,  ) 
Department  of  Internal  Affairs,  >■ 

Harrisburg,  Penn.,  Dec.  14,  1880.  ) 

Hon.  D.  J.  Pratt,  Assistant  Secretary  Board  of  Regents, 
Albany,  N.  Y 

Dear  Sir — It  is  only  within  a few  days  that  I have  received  a 
copy  of  Major  Clarke’s  report,  or  I should  have  communicated  with 
you  sooner  as  to  the  view  which  the  Pennsylvania  board  of  bound- 
ary commissioners  takes  of  it,  at  least  a majority  of  them,  the  third 
having  not  yet  been  heard  from.*  Should  the  New  York  board 

* Since  this  letter  was  written,  the  third  member  of  the  board  has  indicated  his 
assent  to  the  views  herein  expressed. 

[ben.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


9 


10 


[Senate 


agree  with  us,  I do  not  see  why  we  might  not  agree  upon  onr  action 
without  a meeting,  which  is  in  any  case  inconvenient  and  is  certain 
to  cause  individual  expenditure  of  money. 

W e have  given  this  subject  our  deepest  consideration,  as  indeed 
its  importance  demands;  we  have  besides,  unofficially,  consulted 
very  high  legal  authority  to  aid  us  in  our  conclusion,  and  our  views 
are  the  result  of  such  consideration  and  consultation. 

It  is  only  necessary,  we  think,  to  read  Major  Clarke’s  reports  to 
be  convinced  that  to  restore  the  line  to  what  it  was  at  the  time  of 
its  being  laid  down,  in  the  last  century,  is  simply  an  impossibility. 
The  line  as  found  appears  to  be  composed  of  a series  of  crooked 
continuous  lines  and  gaps  extending  for  miles  unmarked  in  any 
way,  to  restore  which,  from  any  discoverable  data,  cannot  be  done. 
The  whole  of  the  fragments  of  line  discovered  are  not  straight. 
They  vary  from  north  to  south  by  no  rule.  Scarcely  three  monu- 
ments to  be  found  are  in  the  same  straight  line,  but  form  irregular 
curves,  the  theory  of  which  cannot  be  divined.  The  blank  portions 
of  the  line  then  must  have  been  erratic  in  the  same  way,  and  there 
is  no  rule  to  point  out  the  system  of  their  errors. 

There  is  hardiy  a monument  on  the  whole  line  that  is  upon  the 
forty-second  parallel,  at  or  near  the  points  which  have  been  laid 
down  for  us  upon  that  line  by  the  Coast  Survey,  and  yet  the  forty- 
second  parallel  of  north  latitude  remains  the  true  boundary  between 
the  two  States.  Yet  were  we  to  reject  the  parallel  as  our  boundary, 
how  is  it  possible  to  restore  the  line  of  the  last  century  ? Any  line 
must  be  the  result  of  the  opinion  of  the  last  surveyor,  and  it  is  cer- 
tain that  he  has  no  rule  and  can  discover  no  rule  upon  which  to  form 
that  opinion.  It  appears  then  to  this  board,  that  in  order  to  establish 
this  line  it  is  absolutely  necessary  for  us  to  have  the  parallel  laid  down 
with  the  utmost  care  and  precision  attainable  at  this  age,  and  either 
recommend  that  the  said  parallel  shall  be  the  boundary  from  this 
time  forward,  or  adjust  the  fragments  of  Major  Clarke's  constructed 
line  to  it  in  such  a manner  as  not  to  disturb  vested  interests.  And 
in  this  process  should  it  be  found  that  the  parallel  to  be  laid  down 
will  not  seriously  affect  these  interests,  then  let  there  be  a system 
of  compromise  established  by  which  no  owner  on  either  side  of  that 
line  shall  be  unjustly  treated. 

The  law  calls  us  to  find  the  “ true  location  ” of  the  monuments, 
on  which  “ true  location  ” they  can  be  set.  We  cannot  conceive  any 
true  location  for  them  except  upon  the  parallel,  and  that  is  not  to  be 


No.  71.] 


11 


found  except  by  laying  it  down  with  “ all  the  appliances  and  means 
to  boot’’  attainable  at  the  present  day. 

We  are  informed  that  the  State  of  New  York  is  now  having  a 
geodetic  survey  of  her  territory  made  by  the  United  States  Coast  and 
Geodetic  Survey.* 

The  parallel  laid  down  geodetically  would  be  a most  important 
element  in  such  a survey,  and  its  cost  would  be  much  reduced  if  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  were  to  assume  one-half  thereof.  The  State 
of  Pennsylvania  will  very  soon  find  it  to  her  advantage  to  have  a 
similar  survey  of  lier  territory  made,  and  would  equally  require  the 
parallel  as  a basis  in  such  survey.  She  would  also  partake  of  the 
benefit  of  having  the  cost  of  laying  down  the  parallel  divided  by 
two  in  like  manner.  So  there  can  scarcely  be  a better  time  than  the 
present  to  come  to  such  conclusion. 

We  have  inquired  at  the  Coast  Survey  bureau  and  find  that  to  lay 
down  and  mark  by  suitable  monuments  aline  detiningtheforty-second 
parallel  geodetically,  which  means,  with  the  utmost  precision  attain- 
able in  this  age  ; also,  to  lay  down,  in  a similar  manner,  the  nineteen 
or  twenty  miles  of  meridian  dividing  a portion  of  the  two  States  from 
each  other,  would  cost  each  State,  say  $18,000.  Whilst  the  cost  of 
laving  down  a line  constructed  from  the  vestiges  of  the  old  line  it  is 
impossible  to  estimate.  The  surveyors  might  withdraw  from  the 
field  under  the  impression  of  having  finished  their  work,  but  there 
is  no  knowing  how  often  they  might  be  recalled  to  explain  their 
work. 

A geodetic  line  laid  down  by  the  bureau  would  embrace  a belt  in 
each  State,  on  each  side  of  the  parallel,  from  fifteen  to  thirty  miles 
wide ; a belt  which  would  contain  every  object  of  interest  embraced 
within  that  area.  A geodetic  line  would  possess  the  advantage  of 
having  trigonometrical  references  to  the  parallel,  by  means  of  which 
it  could  always  be  restored,  should  it  by  accident,  or  (as  it  would 
most  certainly)  by  design,  at  any  time  become  disintegrated. 

We  see  by  Major  Clarke’s  report  that  he  has  reason  to  believe 
that  his  line  has  been  tampered  with  already,  and  he  has  reason  to 
infer  that  the  line  has  been  tampered  with  in  various  places  in  years 
gone  by. 

Any  other  line  could  only  be  preserved,  or  attempted  to  be  pre- 
served, by  close  local  indices.  Self-interest  or  mere  wanton  mischief 


* The  survey  referred  to  by  Col.  Worrall  is  not  in  charge  of  the  United  States 
Coast  Survey  bureau,  but  is  a State  survey  under  a board  of  State  commissioners. 


12 


[Senate 


might  seriously  break  it  at  many  points ; it  and  its  local  references 
both.  But  trigonometrical  references,  such  as  none  but  scientific 
knowledge  could  even  understand  (although  perfectly  simple  to 
geodetic  surveyors  from  the  records),  would  retain  the  means  of 
renewing  the  line  against  all  its  enemies,  whether  those  of  accident, 
design  or  neglect,  through  the  inattention  of  years. 

Unless  this  parallel  is  laid  down  what  have  we  for  the  data  of  our 
boundary  ? It  is  only  necessary  to  read  Major  Clarke’s  reports 
and  examine  his  maps  to  answer.  If  the  old  line  be  called  for  — 
what  is  the  old  line  ? We  find  two  pieces  of  the  old  line  ; one,  per- 
haps, curving  to  the  north,  the  other  to  the  south,  and  a gap  between 
them.  Did  the  curves  continue  into  the  gap  and  how  far '(  The 
curves  possess  no  status  in  geometry  ; we  imagine  tangents  to  them, 
versed  sines,  abscissas,  what  not ; but  they  are  not  to  be  defined  by 
any  such  references.  Did  the  northern  curvature  extend  into  the 
gap,  or  was  the  gap  straight,  or  where  did  the  southern  curvature 
commence  ? An  answer  to  any  of  these  questions  must  be  made 
empirically.  There  is  no  specialty  of  rule,  and  an  owner  1 ikes  to  know 
how  to  set  up  his  fences,  yet  how  can  he  do  it  ? Owners  are  some- 
times scientific  men  — star-gazers  let  us  say.  Such  men,  knowing  that 
these  boundaries  have  reference  to  the  heavens,  will  be  found  very 
often  appealing  to  the  heavens  and  asking  the  authorities  to  have  the 
errors  they  have  discovered  corrected,  for  they  can  use  a telescope  as 
well  as  the  surveyor-general,  who  has  set  their  metes  and  bounds. 

But  this  subject  is  almost  infinite.  Thousands  of  cases  may  be 
imagined  through  which  trouble  would  arise  to  posterity,  unless  we 
lay  down  the  line  now,  appealing  to  the  highest  scientific  light 
attainable.  That  was  indeed  done  by  our  forefathers. 

The  first  surveyors  of  this  line  were  philosophers  of  the  age, 
friends  and  corresponds  of  Franklin,  Rumford  perhaps,  and  other 
distinguished  lights  of  the  last  century  in  Christendom.  The  Ritten- 
liouses,  the  Ellicotts,  the  Porters,  the  Clintons  and  others,  who  were 
interested  in  these  boundaries,  were  the  highest  authorities  of  the 
age.  They  have  left  imperfect  work  behind  them,  but  their  instru- 
ments were  imperfect,  and  geodesy  was  hardly  known  at  that  day. 
Their  meridians  are  fair  enough,  but  their  parallels  we  can  hardly 
understand.  Tiieir  astronomical  stations  do  not  seem  to  be  seriously 
erroneous,  but  their  parallel  is  absolutely  unintelligible.  Yet  how 
much  of  that  has  remained  undisturbed  for  one  hundred  years  — 
who  can  tell  ? * 

*See  remarks  of  Assistant  Edwin  Smith  in  Report  of  United  States  Coast  and 
Geodetic  Survey  for  1880,  p.  18. 


No.  71.] 


13 


They  had  the  best  instruments  of  the  day  it  is  true  ; they  got 
them  from  the  best  makers  known  at  the  time  ; yet  see  what  work 
they  have  left  behind  them ! But  again  ; these  men  were  the 
highest  authority  of  the  age,  selected  by  the  great  parties  in  interest. 
Is  it  not  the  duty  of  the  same  parties  iu  interest  to  select  the  highest 
authorities  of  this  age  ? 

Then  these  authorities  were  individual  philosophers.  To-day  we 
have  an  institution  whose  geodetic  work  has  shed  a luster  upon  our 
country. 

The  work  of  the  Coast  Survey  has  been  tested  again  and  again, 
and  is  acknowledged  to  have  attained  to  a precision  not  surpassed  by 
any  similar  work  in  any  part  of  the  world.  Shall  we  have  this 
boundary  laid  down  by  them,  or  shall  we  trust  to  private  authority, 
which,  however  adept  in  ordinary  surveying,  is,  nay,  cannot  but  be 
inexperienced  in  geodetic  work. 

The  utmost  difference  in  cost  can  scarcely  reach  to  $10,000  for 
each  State,  and  what  is  that  in  comparison  to  the  satisfaction  that 
would  be  felt  by  the  State  and  people,  knowing  that  their  work  is 
done  as  correctly  as  it  is  possible  to  have  it  done  at  this  time. 

But  regarding  the  line  as  it  has  been  explored,  who  can  estimate 
the  difficulties,  were  we  to  undertake  to  adopt  it?  Major  Clarke 
suggests  that  it  would  possibly  be  necessary  to  revise,  at  more  than 
one  point,  at  the  final  settling. 

It  would  indeed  be  necessary  to  revise  it  at  very  many  points  at 
the  final  settling.  Indeed  we  cannot  see  how  it  is  possible  to  pro- 
nounce on  it  unless  we  know  where  the  forty-second  parallel  is  for 
the  whole  distance. 

Whatever  trouble  may  seem  to  be  necessary  in  fixing  this  bound- 
ary had  better  be  taken  now.  To  defer  the  final  consideration  is 
only  putting  off  the  evil  day.  The  longer  it  is  deferred  the  greater 
will  be  the  uncertainty,  and  the  greater  will  be  the  final  cost. 

The  two  Legislatures  may  be  reported  to,  laying  down  the  facts 
as  the}7  are,  and  the  whole  matter  can  be  proceeded  with  under  the 
provisions  of  a concurrent  bill. 

I beg  that  you  will  lay  the  above  letter  before  your  board  for 
their  consideration,  and  as  both  Legislatures  meet  very  soon,  they, 
the  Legislatures,  should  be  informed  of  the  position  of  affairs  up  to 
the  period  of  their  meeting. 

Can  we  arrange  matters  by  correspondence  ? 

I am  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  WORRALL,  Chairman. 


14 


[Senate 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK  : 

New  York  and  Pennsylvania  Boundary  Commission, 
Office  of  the  Regents  of  the  University, 

Albany,  December  30,  1880. 

To  the  Hon.  James  Worrall,  Chairman , etc.  : 

Dear  Sir  — I have  read  and  considered  very  carefully  your  com- 
munication of  December  14th,  in  regard  to  the  boundary  line 
between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and  I have  noted  your 
proposition  as  to  the  future  joint  action  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
two  States. 

Without  undertaking  to  discuss  in  detail  the  points,  which  you  so 
ably  state  in  your  paper,  it  will  be  better  that  I proceed  at  once  to 
explain  the  position  of  the  New  York  commission,  and  the  limita- 
tions within  which  any  further  action  on  their  part  must  be  taken. 

Declared  Policy  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

In  the  first  place,  from  the  whole  tenor  of  the  action  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  especially  from  its  declarations  as  to  the  present 
case,  I think  I am  authorized  in  saying  that  the  State  has  adopted  a 
definite  policy,  as  to  the  principles  which  should  govern  in  all 
measures  regarding  its  boundary  lines.  The  original  resolution, 
passed  by  the  Senate  April  19,  1867,  authorized  the  Regents  of  the 
University : “ To  cause  an  examination  to  be  instituted  as  to  the  con- 
dition and  true  location  of  the  monuments  which  mark  the  several 
boundaries  of  the  State,  and  ascertain  whether  any,  and  what  action 
may  be  needed  to  preserve  and  renew  them.” 

Chapter  424  of  the  Laws  of  1 875  authorizes  the  Regents  of  the 
University : “ To  resume  the  work  of  examination  as  to  the  true  loca- 
tion of  the  monuments  which  mark  the  several  boundaries  of  the 
State  * * * and,  in  connection  with  the  authorities  of  Pennsyl- 

vania and  New  Jersey  respectively,  to  replace  any  monuments  which 
have  become  dilapidated  or  been  removed.” 

The  authority  conferred  by  these  two  express  declarations  of  the 
Legislature,  it  will  be  seen,  extends  only  to  the  work  of  examining 
as  to  the  monuments,  and  of  replacing  any  which  have  become  di- 
lapidated or  been  removed,  and  does  not  contemplate  any  step  toward 
locating  a new  line,  or  erecting  monuments  on  any  other  than  the 
original  line. 

A similar  definite  policy  is  apparent  in  the  action  of  the  Legisla- 
ture in  regard  to  the  Connecticut  boundary.  By  chapter  159  of  the 


No.  71.  ] 


15 


Laws  of  1860,  it  directs  the  commissioners : “ To  survey  and  mark 
with  suitable  monuments  the  said  line  between  the  two  States,  as 
fixed  by  the  survey  of  1731.' ” The  State  of  Connecticut  for  a time 
resisted  this  mode  of  settlement  and  insisted  on  a ratification  of  the 
line,  to  make  it  accord  with  the  verbal  description  ; but  finally  by  an 
agreement  between  the  commissioners  of  the  two  States,  ratified  by 
both  States,  the  line  originally  surveyed  and  which  had  been  recog- 
nized as  such,  was  fixed  as  the  true  boundary. 

The  same  policy  is  manifest  in  the  language  of  the  Revised  Stat- 
utes in  which  the  boundaries  of  the  State  of  New  York  are  estab- 
lished by  law.  The  boundary  between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania 
is  not  described  as  the  line  of  the  forty-second  parallel,  but  as  “ the 
line  established  and  marked  by  the  last-mentioned  commissioners.” 
According  to  this  statute,  the  line  actually  traced  on  the  ground  by 
the  joint  commissioners  of  the  two  States  is  the  legal  and  authentic 
boundary. 

Finally  referring  to  the  line  between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania, 
in  an  act  passed  May  20,  18S0,  it  is  declared  that  the  lines  originally- 
laid  down  and  marked  with  monuments  by  the  several  joint  commis- 
sioners duly  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  which  have  since  been 
acknowledged  and  legally  recognized  by  the  several  States  interested, 
as  the  limits  of  their  territory  and  jurisdiction,  are  the  boundary 
lines  of  said  States,  irrespective  of  want  of  conformity  to  the  verbal 
descriptions  thereof.  The  same  act  authorizes  the  Regents  to  desig- 
nate three  of  their  number  as  commissioners,  who,  in  connection 
with  commissioners  from  the  other  States,  “ shall  proceed  to  ascer- 
tain and  agree  upon  the  location  of  said  line  as  originally  established 
and  marked  with  monuments  ; and  in  case  any  monuments  are  found 
dilapidated  or  removed  from  their  original  location,  said  commission- 
ers are  authorized  to  renew  or  replace  them  in  a durable  manner  in 
their  original  positions,  and  to  erect  such  additional  monuments  at 
such  places  on  said  line  as  they  may  deem  necessary  for  the  proper 
designation  of  the  boundary  lines  of  said  States.” 

In  view  of  these  plain  indications,  and  especially  this  last  un- 
equivocal declaration,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  is  the  settled 
policy  of  the  State  of  New  York  to  hold  the  lines  originally  laid 
down  on  the  ground,  and  recognized  as  the  limits  of  their  territory 
and  jurisdiction,  as  the  true  boundary  lines,  irrespective  of  their 
want  of  scientific  accuracy.  v 


16 


[Senate 


Decisions  of  tiie  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

2.  This  policy  which  the  State  has  adopted,  and  made  the  basis 
of  its  action,  in  every  case  of  disputed  boundary,  is  that  which  is 
sanctioned  by  the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  A celebrated  case,  in  which  the  question  here  considered 
was  adjudicated,  was  that  of  Rhode  Island  v.  Massachusetts,  as 
reported  in  12  and  Id  Peters  and  4 Howard.  The  boundary  line 
in  dispute  was  described  in  the  letters-patent  to  the  Colony  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  1621,  as  lying  “ three  English  miles  south  of 
the  Charles  river,  or  any  part  thereof.” 

In  1642  this  boundary  was  run  by  surveyors,  taking  as  their  start- 
ing-point, a stake  set  three  miles  south  of  the  most  southern  bend  of 
a small  tributary  of  the  Charles  river,  and  not  of  the  river  itself. 
The  question  as  to  the  true  location  of  the  boundary  was  finally 
brought  into  court  by  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  alleging  that  the 
line  as  run  upon  the  ground  did  not  conform  to  the  legal  description 
thereof.  The  final  decision  was  rendered  in  1846,  in  which  Justice 
McLean,  who  delivered  the  opinion  of  the  court,  in  speaking  of  this 
point,  says : 

“For  the  security  of  rights,  whether  of  States  or  individuals, 
long  possession -under  a claim  of  title  is  protected.  And  there  is  no 
controversy  in  which  this  great  principle  may  be  involved  with 
greater  justice  and  propriety,  than  in  a case  of  disputed  boundary.” 
And,  again,  u Whatever  inaccuracy  may  be  detected  in  the  latitude 
or  longitude  of  the  station  of  Woodward  and  Satfrey,  as  given  by 
them,  or  in  the  volume  of  water  called  for,  the  place  being  identified 
will  control  other  calls.”  (4  Howard.) 

It  was  on  such  reasoning  that  the  case  was  decided  against  Rhode 
Island  and  the  line  as  run  on  the  ground,  although  through  a mis- 
conception erroneously  located,  was  confirmed  as  the  true  boundary. 

Practice  of  the  United  States. 

3.  It  will  be  found  that  this  principle,  in  the  settlement  of 

boundary  lines,  is  one  which  has  been  observed  in  all  disputes, 
whether  between  States,  or  between  the  United  States  and  foreign 
powers.  Thus,  in  the  case  of  the  north-eastern  boundary  between 
this  country  and  Canada,  a portion  of  it,  lying  on  the  north  of 
Vermont  and  New  York,  is  described  in  the  treaty  of  1783,  as  fol- 
lows: “ Thence  down  along  the  middle  of  said  river  (Connecticut) 

to  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude ; from  thence  by  a line 


No.  71.] 


17 


due  west  on  said  latitude,  until  it  strikes  the  river  Iroquois  or 
Cataraquy,”  etc.  (Treaty  of  1783,  art.  2.) 

Now  this  line  of  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude  had  been 
surveyed  by  Yalentine  and  Collins  previous  to  1771.  But  the  work, 
although  perhaps  as  well  done  as  the  instruments  and  methods  of 
the  time  would  allow,  was  not  equal  to  the  tests  applied  to  it  half  a 
century  later.  At  St.  Begis  the  old  line  differed  from  the  rectified 
line  by  1,375  feet,  and  at  House’s  Point  the  two  diverged  4,576  feet, 
nearly  a mile. 

Yet  in  the  settlement  of  this  boundary  effected  by  the  Asbburton 
Treaty  in  1842,  instead  of  insisting  on  a rectification  of  the  line, 
and  the  establishment  of  a scientific  boundary,  the  high  contracting 
parties  agreed  that  the  old  line  should  be  adhered  to,  describing  it 
in  words  as  follows:  “ Thence  down  the  middle  of  said  stream,  till 

the  line  thus  run  intersects  the  old  line  of  boundary,  surveyed  and 
marked  by  Yalentine  and  Collins,  previous  to  1774,  as  the  forty-fifth 
degree  of  north  latitude,  and  which  has  been  known  and  understood 
to  be  the  line  of  actual  division  between  the  States  of  New  York 
and  Yermont,  on  one  side,  and  the  British  Province  of  Canada  on 
the  other ; and  from  said  point  of  intersection,  west  along  said 
dividing  line,  as  heretofore  known  and  understood,  to  the  Iroquois  or 
St.  Lawrence  river.” 

Scientific  Boundaries  Impossible. 

4.  This  principle  for  the  settlement  of  boundaries  seems  to  be  a 
necessary  result  of  the  imperfection  of  the  methods  which  must  be 
used  to  locate  a line  according  to  its  verbal  description.  To  run  a 
straight  line  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  is  an  impossibility.  The 
very  highest  result  of  modern  science  is  only  an  approximation,  more 
or  less  accurate,  according  to  the  precision  of  the  instruments,  and 
the  skill  and  time  expended  by  the  surveyors.  If,  therefore,  we 
were  to  admit  the  necessity  of  making  a boundary  line  conform  per- 
fectly to  its  description,  in  order  that  it  should  become  the  true 
boundary,  we  should  be  compelled  to  run  it  anew  at  every  advance 
in  scientific  instruments,  and  readjust  the  questions  of  land  titles  and 
jurisdiction  at  every  new  rectification.  The  only  escape  from  this 
conclusion  is  in  applying  to  the  boundaries  of  States  the  same  prin- 
ciples that  we  employ  in  questions  of  boundary  between  the  prop- 
erty of  individuals.  We  must  regard  the  line  upon  the  ground,  run 
with  the  best  skill  available  at  the  time,  and  indorsed  and  acquiesced 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  3 


18 


[Senate 


in  by  the  States,  as  the  permanent  boundaries.  The  formal  laying 
out  of  the  line  and  the  marking  with  monuments  must  be  looked 
upon  as  the  joint  interpretation  of  the  verbal  description,  whicli  in- 
terpretation the  parties  agree  to  regard  as  the  true  line,  and  by  their 
agreement  are  estopped  from  thereafter  calling  in  question. 

History  of  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  Boundary. 

5.  The  history  of  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  boundary  illus- 
trates, in  the  most  striking  manner,  the  importance  of  the  principles 
above  stated.  The  northern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania  was  described 
in  the  original  letters-patent,  granted  to  William  Penn,  as  the  be- 
ginning of  the  forty-third  degree  of  northern  latitude.  The  line 
along  this  parallel  remained  undetermined  and  unmarked  until,  in 
1774,  the  initial  point  thereof  on  the  Delaware  river  was  ascertained 
and  fixed  astronomically  by  the  joint  commissioners  appointed  for 
that  purpose,  viz.:  Samuel  Holland,  on  the  part  of  New  York,  and 
David  Rittenhouse,  on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania.  No  further  steps 
were  taken  in  the  matter  till  the  close  of  the  war,  when  the  demand 
for  lands  in  central  and  western  New  York,  and  in  the  rich  valleys 
of  Pennsylvania,  called  attention  to  the  necessity  of  settling  the  limits 
of  the  two  States.  The  State  of  Pennsylvania  first  moved  in  the 
matter  and  appointed  commissioners  “ to  run  and  mark  a temporary 
line.”  Governor  George  Clinton,  of  New  York,  at  once  procured 
the  passage  of  an  act  providing  for  a joint  commission  “to  run  out, 
mark  and  ascertain  the  said  line  of  jurisdiction,  beginning  at  the  place 
so  fixed  and  ascertained  by  the  said  commissioners,  as  above  men- 
tioned, on  the  Mohawk,  or  western  branch  of  the  Delaware,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  forty-third  degree  of  north  latitude.” 

Governor  Clinton,  in  communicating  this  action  of  the  New  York 
Legislature  to  Governor  Dickinson,  of  Pennsylvania,  calls  his  atten- 
tion to  the  fact,  that  “ our  law  provides  for  the  establishment  of  a 
; permanent  line  * * * instead  of  a temporary  line,  between  the 

two  States.”  Whereupon,  on  the  suggestion  of  Governor  Dickin- 
son, the  Pennsylvania  General  Assembly  rescinded  its  former  action, 
and  passed  an  act  March  31,  1785,  providing  for  a joint  commission 
to  establish  the  common  boundary.  David  Rittenhouse  and  Andrew 
Porter  were  appointed  commissioners  on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  Philip  Schuyler,  James  Clinton  and  Simeon  De  Witt,  commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  New  York. 

The  joint  commission,  in  the  summer  of  1786,  finished  ninety 


19 


No.  71.] 

miles  of  the  line  to  the  Tioga  river,  marking  the  same  with  sub- 
stantial mile-stones.  The  work  was  resumed  in  1787,  with  Andrew 
Ellicott  and  Andrew  Porter  as  commissioners  from  Pennsylvania 
and  Abraham  Ilardenbergh  and  William  W.  Morris,  commissioners 
from  New  York.  For  the  purpose  of  greater  accuracy,  they  divided 
the  whole  line,  from  the  Delaware  to  Lake  Erie,  into  sections,  and  at 
stations  determined,  by  astronomical  observations,  the  latitude.  The 
several  commissioners  reported  the  results  to  their  States. 

This  line  so  run  and  marked,  comprising  the  initial  point  on  the 
Delaware  river,  the  ninety  miles  run  in  1786,  and  the  remainder  in 
1787,  was  established  and  confirmed  by  act  of  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, passed  September  29,  1789,  as  the  boundary  between  it  and 
the  State  of  New  York,  as  follows  : “ That  the  said  boundary  line, 

so  as  aforesaid  run,  marked  and  returned,  * * * * shall  be, 

and  forever  hereafter  shall  be  deemed  and  taken  to  be,  and  is  hereby 
declared  to  be,  the  true  and  just  line  of  boundary  and  partition,  both 
of  territory  and  jurisdiction,  between  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  and 
the  State  of  New  York.” 

In  like  manner  the  State  of  New  York  by  formal  statute  enacted 
that  “ it  is  therefore  declared  that  the  State  of  New  York  is  bounded 
as  follows:  * * * * to  a monument  in  the  beginning  of  the 

forty-third  degree  of  north  latitude,  erected  in  the  year  1787,  by 
Abraham  Ilardenbergh  and  William  W.  Morris,  commissioners  on 
the  part  of  this  State,  and  Andrew  Ellicott  and  Andrew  Porter, 
commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  marking  the  termination  of  the  line  of  jurisdiction  between 
this  State  and  the  said  State  of  Pennsylvania ; then  east  along  the 
line  established  and  marked  by  the  said  last-mentioned  commissioners 
to  the  ninetieth  mile-stone  in  the  same  parallel  of  latitude,  erected  in 
the  year  1786  by  James  Clinton  and  Simeon  DeWitt,  commissioners 
on  the  part  of  this  State,  and  Andrew  Ellicott,  commissioner  on  the 
part  of  Pennsylvania,  which  said  ninetieth  mile-stone  stands  on  the 
western  side  of  the  south  branch  of  the  Tioga  river,  then  east  along 
the  line  established  and  marked  by  said  last-mentioned  commission- 
ers, to  a stone  erected  in  the  year  1774,  on  a small  island  in  the 
Delaware  river  by  Samuel  Holland  and  David  Rittenliouse,  commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  the  colonies  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania, 
for  the  purpose  of  marking  the  beginning  of  the  forty-third  degree 
of  north  latitude.”  (N.  Y.  Revised  Statutes.)  ' 

It  is  evident  from  the  language  of  authorizing  and  confirming  acts 


20 


[Senate 


on  the  part  of  both  States,  that  it  is  the  lines  run  upon  the  ground 
which  were  intended  to  be,  and  were  confirmed  as  the  permanent 
boundaries. 

Nothing  can  be  stronger  or  more  unequivocal  than  the  declaration 
of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  And  in  the  light  of  these  declarations, 
it  seems  unwarrantable  for  the  joint  commission  to  open  the  whole 
question  anew,  and  undertake  to  make  a new  boundary  between  the 
States.  From  such  a step  certainly  the  New  York  commissioners 
are  restrained  not  only  by  considerations  as  to  the  general  policy  of 
the  State,  but  by  the  definite  instructions  contained  in  the  act  under 
which  they  were  appointed  and  are  now  acting. 

Conclusion  and  Recommendations. 

What  remains  for  the  joint  commissioners  to  do,  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, seems  plain.  It  is  to  restore  the  marking  of  the  old  line. 

That  this  presents  some  difficulties  there  is  no  doubt.  The  state 
of  the  line  as  revealed  by  the  reconnaissance  of  Major  Clarke,  the 
surveyor  for  the  joint  commissioners,  shows  clearly  that  the  work  of 
restoring  it  is  undertaken  none  too  soon.  As  to  the  methods  to  be 
pursued,  they  do  not  differ  from  those  pursued  in  ascertaining  the 
boundary  lines  between  tracts  of  land  owned  by  individuals.  This 
principle  is  expressly  decided  in  the  case  of  Rhode  Island  v.  Mas- 
sachusetts , 12  Peters,  734. 

First,  monuments  or  marks  on  the  ground  must  govern.  Wher- 
ever such  marks  can  be  found,  they  determine  points  in  the  line.  If 
there  is  evidence  of  the  marks  having  been  changed  from  their  orig- 
inal location,  they  must  be  restored  to  their  ancient  place.  When 
the  monuments  are  lost,  then  evidence  of  their  original  location  must 
be  gathered  from  the  boundary  lines  of  tracts  of  land  abutting  on  the 
State  line,  from  public  acts  of  recognition  as  shown  in  the  jurisdic- 
tion exercised  by  local  officers  and  courts,  and  from  traditional  testi- 
mony supported  by  such  public  acts.  Having  ascertained  the  mon- 
uments, or  the  places  where  they  once  were,  the  intermediate  lines 
between  them  must  be  run  and  connected,  so  as  to  form  a continu- 
ous boundary,  however  crooked  it  may  turn  out  to  be,  or  whether  it 
conforms  to  the  forty -second  parallel  os  not.* 

It  is  just  as  easy  to  connect  the  monuments  of  such  a line  with  a 

* See  opinion  of  Hon.  George  A.  Simmons  in  regard  to  tlie  Connecticut  bound- 
ary, in  which  the  same  principles  here  involved  are  discussed.  The  Connecticut 
boundary  was  settled  in  accordance  with  these  principles.  (N.  Y.  Senate  Doc- 
ument 165,  1857.)  This  opinion  is  given  in  full  in  the  report  of  Major  Clarke. 


No.  71.] 


21 


system  of  trigonometrical  stations,  as  those  proposed  to  be  put  upon 
the  scientific  parallel.  Such  monuments  would,  therefore,  have  the 
same  security  against  being  lost  or  displaced  as  those  of  a new  line. 
The  New  York  State  Survey  will  reach  many  parts  of  this 
line  in  the  summer  of  1881,  and  it  will  be  entirely  feasible  to  make 
each  of  the  monuments  a station  in  the  triangulation  and  thus  to  fix 
effectually  its  location,  so  that  it  may  at  any  time  be  found. 

The  difficulty  of  accomplishing  such  a restoration  of  the  old  line 
would  be  as  nothing  compared  with  the  embarrassment  and  incon- 
venience, not  to  say  the  injustice,  caused  by  the  survey  of  a newline 
on  the  forty-second  parallel.  Probably  through  its  entire  extent,  it 
would  vary  from  the  recognized  line,  sometimes  on  one  side  and 
some  times  on  the  other.  Persons  and  property  with  all  their  vested 
rights  would  be  transferred  from  the  jurisdiction  of  one  State  to 
that  of  another.  Private  titles  would  be  disturbed,  the  limits  of 
towns,  counties  and  villages  would  be  changed  and  endless  sources 
of  litigation  would  be  opened.  No  “system  of  compromise  ” or 
compensation,  in  my  opinion,  can  be  conceived,  which  will  be  ade- 
quate to  make  amends  for  such  consequences. 

Proposed  Course  to  be  Pursued. 

Instead  of  attempting  this,  I respectfully  submit,  on  the  part  of 
the  New  York  commission,  the  following  course,  which  the  joint 
commission,  in  the  further  prosecution  of  their  duties,  may  legiti- 
mately and  properly  pursue : 

1.  That  the  work  of  examining  the  monuments,  and  describing 
and  mapping  the  present  condition  of  the  line,  be  completed. 

2.  That  the  work  of  restoring  the  monuments  be  at  once  under- 
taken ; granite  to  be  used  as  the  material;  underground  marks  and 
reference  points  to  be  established. 

3.  That  additional  monuments  on  the  line  be  established,  at  its 
intersection  with  important  roads  and  rivers,  where  their  publicity 
will  make  them  useful  as  reference  points,  and  will  protect  them 
against  disturbance. 

4.  That  the  portion  of  the  line  intervening  between  the  monu- 
ments be  aligned  and  described  in  the  records  of  the  commission. 

5.  That  a map  of  the  line  be  constructed  in  duplicate,  to  form  part 
of  the  records  to  be  deposited  in  the  archives  of  the  two  States. 

6.  That  arrangements  be  made  with  the  commissioners  of  the 
New  York  State  Survey,  that  whenever  and  wherever  their  opera- 


22 


[Senate 


tions  shall  reach  this  line,  the  monuments  thereof  shall  be  included 
in  and  form  stations  of  their  triangulation ; and  that  whenever  a 
survey  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  shall  be  carried  out,  measures  be 
taken  to  effect  in  the  triangulation  a similar  connection  with  the 
boundary  monuments. 

I have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant. 

HENRY  R.  PIERSON*, 

Chairman  of  the  New  York  Commission . 

Reorganization  of  the  Commission. 

In  the  meantime  the  following  act  had  been  passed  by  the  Legis- 
lature : 

AN  ACT  to  provide  for  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  lines  between 

the  State  of  New  York  and  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New 

J ersey  res  pecti  vely . 

Passed  May  20, 1880;  tliree-fiftlis  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York , represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows : 

Section  1.  Whereas,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  the  26th 
day  of  May,  1875,  the  Regents  of  the  University  were  authorized  and 
directed,  “ in  connection  with  the  authorities  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  respectively,  to  replace  any  monuments  which  have  be- 
come dilapidated  or  been  removed,  on  the  boundary  lines  of  those 
States ; ” and,  whereas,  from  the  examination  made  by  said  Regents 
it  has  been  found  that  said  monuments,  as  located  by  the  original 
joint  commissioners,  do  not  conform  in  all  cases  to  the  verbal  descrip- 
tions of  said  lines,  and  questions  have  arisen  between  the  commis- 
sioners of  said  States  as  to  the  proper  location  of  said  monuments ; 
therefore,  it  is  hereby  declared  that  the  lines  originally  laid  down 
and  marked  with  monuments  by  the  several  joint  commissioners 
duly  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  which  have  since  been  acknowL 
edged  and  legally  recognized  by  the  several  States  interested  as  the 
limits  of  their  territory  and  jurisdiction,  are  the  boundary  lines  of 
said  States,  irrespective  of  want  of  conformity  to  the  verbal  descrip- 
tions thereof. 

§ 2.  Said  Regents  are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  desig- 
nate and  appoint  three  of  their  number  as  commissioners  to  meet 
such  commissioners  as  have  been  or  may  be  appointed  and  vested 
with  similar  powers,  on  the  part  of  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  or  either  of  them,  and  with  such  last-mentioned  com- 
missioners, as  soon  as  may  be,  to  proceed  to  ascertain  and  agree  upon 
the  location  of  said  lines  as  originally  established  and  marked  with 
monuments;  and  in  case  any  monuments  are  found  dilapidated  or 
removed  from  their  original  location,  said  commissioners  are  author- 
ized to  renew  or  replace  them  in  a durable  manner,  in  their  original 


No.  71.] 


23 


positions,  and  to  erect  such  additional  monuments  at  such  places  on 
said  lines  as  they  may  deem  necessary  for  the  proper  designation  of 
the  boundary  lines  of  said  States.  The  said  Regents  shall  report 
the  action  of  said  commissioners  to  the  Legislature  of  this  State  for 
its  consideration  and  ratification. 

§3.  The  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  , as 
may  be  necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated  out  of  any  moneys  in  the 
treasury  applicable  for  such  purposes,  to  pay  the  necessary  expenses 
and  disbursements  of  said  commissioners  in  the  performance  of  the 
dnties  required  by  this  act,  and  the  Comptroller  is  authorized  to 
draw  his  warrant  upon  the  Treasurer  for  moneys  hereby  appropri- 
ated from  time  to  time  as  the  same  may  be  needed. 

§ 4.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

In  pursuance  of  the  above  law  the  Regents  of  the  University,  on 
the  13th  day  of  July,  1880,  adopted  the  following  resolution: 

Whereas,  By  chapter  340  of  the  Laws  of  1880,  the  Board  of 
Regents  are  “ authorized  and  empowered  to  designate  and  appoint 
three  of  their  number  as  commissioners  to  meet  such  commissioners 
as  have  been  or  may  be  appointed  and  vested  with  similar  powers 
on  the  part  of  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  or  either 
of  them,  and  to  proceed  to  ascertain  and  agree  upon  the  location  of 
said  lines  as  originally  established  and  marked  with  monuments  . ” 
therefore, 

Resolved , That  Vice-Chancellor  Pierson  and  Regents  Leavenworth 
and  Depew  be  appointed  commissioners  under  the  above  act  with 
full  powers  to  carry  out  the  provisions  thereof. 

The  commissioners  thus  appointed  entered  at  once  upon  the  work 
intrusted  to  them.  Annual  reports  have  been  made  by  them  to  the 
Legislature,  showing  the  progress  made  from  year  to  year  by  the 
joint  commission  in  agreeing  upon  and  establishing  the  boundary 
line  between  the  two  States,  in  replacing  monuments  which  were 
found  dilapidated  or  removed,  and  in  erecting  such  additional  monu- 
ments as  they  deemed  necessary.  For  information  in  regard  to  the 
progress  of  the  work  in  these  particulars,  reference  is  respectfully 
made  to  these  annual  reports. 

Instructions  were  issued  to  the  surveyors  (for  which  see  Appendix 
A A)  giving  full  directions  for  the  continuance  and  completion  of 
the  work  in  hand. 

In  pursuance  of  these  instructions  the  surveyors  proceeded  to  re- 
survey the  line  and  remark  it  with  monuments.  The  details  of 
their  operations  are  given  in  the  report  made  by  them  to  the  joint 
commissioners,  and  is  herewith  transmitted,  and  in  the  field-books 
kept  by  them. 


24 


[Sen at® 


Final  Agreement. 

The  work  of  surveying  the  boundary  line  and  re-marking  it  with 
suitable  and  durable  monuments  having  thus  been  completed  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  commissioners  of  the  two  States,  a formal  agree- 
ment was  made  by  the  commissioners,  and  duly  executed  by  them 
on  behalf  of  the  two  States.  It  was  stipulated  that  this  agreement 
should  become  binding  and  operative  whenever  it  should  be  ratified 
and  confirmed  by  the  Legislatures  of  the  two  States,  and  approved 
by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  Accordingly  a bill  has  been 
framed  and  is  submitted  herewith,  ratifying  and  confirming  the 
agreement  entered  into  by  the  commissioners.  By  this  bill  the  Gov- 
ernor is  authorized,  when  he  shall  have  received  due  notice  of  a 
like  ratification  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  in  concurrence  with 
the  Executive  of  Pennsylvania,  to  communicate  the  action  of  the 
two  States  to  Congress  and  to  ask  its  approval  of  the  same.  The 
agreement  entered  into  by  the  commissioners  is  as  follows: 

AN  AGREEMENT  made  the  Twenty-sixth  day  of  March,  in  the 
year  Eighteen  hundred  and  eighty-six,  between  Henry  R.  Pierson , 
Elias  W.  Leavenworth  and  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  Commission- 
ers on  the  part  of  the  State  of  New  York , and  Christopher  M. 
Gere  and  Robert  N.  Torrey , Commissioners  on  the  part  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania. 

Whereas,  By  the  first  section  of  Chapter  four  hundred  and 
twenty-four  of  the  Laws  of  the  State  of  New  York  for  the  year 
1875,  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 
were  authorized  and  directed  to  resume  the  work  of  examination 
as  to  the  true  location  of  the  monuments  which  mark  the  several 
boundaries  of  this  State  ” as  authorized  by  the  resolutions  of  the 
Senate  of  April  19,  1807,  and,  in  connection  with  the  authorities  of 
Pennsylvania,  to  replace  any  monuments  which  may  have  become 
dilapidated  or  been  removed  on  the  Boundary  line  of  that  State ; 
and 

Whereas,  The  said  Board  of  Regents  of  the  University  did, 
through  a Committee  of  said  Board,  previously  appointed  for  the 
purpose  under  said  Senate  Resolutions  of  1867,  proceed  to  carry 
out  the  instructions  contained  in  said  Chapter  four  hundred  and 
twenty-four  of  the  Laws  of  1875 ; and 

Whereas,  By  Chapter  three  hundred  and  forty  of  the  Laws  of 
the  said  State  of  New  York  for  the  year  18S0,  the  said  Regents  of 
the  University  were  further  authorized  and  empowered  to  designate 
and  appoint  three  of  their  number  as  Commissioners  to  meet  such 
Commissioners  as  may  have  been,  or  may  be,  appointed  on  the  part 
of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  with  such  last-named  Commission- 


No.  71.] 


25 


ers,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  proceed  to  ascertain  and  agree  upon  the 
location  of  the  Boundary  line  between  said  States,  as  originally  es- 
tablished and  marked  with  monuments,  and  in  case  any  monuments 
are  found  dilapidated  or  removed  from  their  original  locations,  to 
replace  them  in  a durable  manner  in  their  original  positions,  and  to 
erect  such  additional  monuments  at  such  places  on  said  lines  as  they 
may  deem  necessary  for  the  proper  designation  of  the  Boundary 
line  between  said  States ; and 

Whereas,  The  above  named  Henry  R.  Pierson,  Elias  W.  Leaven- 
worth and  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  were  by  resolution  passed  on  the 
thirteenth  day  of  July,  1880,  duly  designated  and  appointed  by  the 
said  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  as  Commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  the  State  of  New  York  for  the  purposes  men- 
tioned in  said  Act : and 

Whereas,  Also,  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  entitled  “ An  Act  in  regard  to  the  Boundary  monu- 
ments on  the  line  between  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York  with  an  appropriation  for  expenses  of  the  same”  passed  May 
8, 1876,  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  was  authorized 
and  empowered  “ to  appoint  three  persons  to  be  a Commission  to 
act  in  conjunction  with  a similar  Commission  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  to  examine  as  to  the  true  location  of  the  monuments  which 
mark  the  Boundary  line  between  this  State  and  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  in  connection  with  said  Commission  of  the  said  State  of 
New  York,  to  replace  any  monuments  which  have  become  dilapi- 
dated or  been  removed  on  the  Boundary  lines  of  said  States  : ” and 

Whereas,  The  Governor  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  under 
authority  of  said  Act  did  duly  designate  and  appoint  Janies  Worrall, 
Christopher  M.  Gere  and  Robert  N.  Torrey  to  be  a Commission  for 
the  purposes  of  said  Act ; and 

Whereas,  James  Worrall,  the  first  named  member  of  said  Com- 
mission, died  during  the  progress  of  the  work  on  said  boundary  line, 
to-wit,  on  April  1,  1885,  and  the  surviving  members,  to-wit,  Chris- 
topher M.  Gere  and  Robert  N.  Torrey,  have  continued  the  work  of 
said  Commission  on  the  part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  authorized 
by  the  aforesaid  Act : 

Now,  therefore,  The  said  Commissioners,  for  and  on  behalf  of 
their  respective  States,  having  duly  performed  the  duties  imposed 
upon  them  by  the  said  acts,  and  having  examined  said  Boundary 
line  and  replaced  in  a durable  manner  the  monuments  to  mark  the 
same,  in  pursuance  of  the  authority  duly  given  as  aforesaid,  have 
agreed,  and  do  hereby  agree,  as  follows  : 

First.  The  channel  of  the  Delaware  River,  from  a line  drawn 
across  said  channel,  from  a granite  monument  erected  upon  the  East- 
ern bank  of  said  River,  in  the  year  1882,  by  the  Joint  Boundary 
Commission  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  and  New  York,  to  mark 
the  Western  extremity  of  the  Boundary  line  between  said  States  of 
New  Jersey  and  New  York,  in  a Westerly  prolongation  of  said 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  4 


26 


[Senate 


Boundary  line,  up  and  along  said  channel  of  said  Delaware  River, 
as  it  winds  and  turns,  for  a distance  of  eighty-five  miles  or  there- 
abouts, to  a line  drawn  East  across  said  River,  from  a granite  monu- 
ment erected  upon  the  West  bank  of  said  River,  in  the  year  1884, 
by  II.  W.  Clarke  and  C.  M.  Gere,  to  mark  the  Eastern  extremity  of 
the  first  line  hereinafter  described,  shall  continue  to  be  a part  of 
the  Boundary  or  partition  line  between  the  said  two  States : Pro- 
vided, however,  that  the  limit  of  territory  between  the  said  two 
States  shall  be  the  center  of  the  said  main  channel;  and  Provided 
further,  that  each  State  shall  enjoy  and  exercise  a concurrent  juris- 
diction within  and  upon  the  water  of  said  main  channel,  between 
the  lines  of  low  water  at  either  bank  thereof,  between  the  limits 
hereinbefore  mentioned. 

Second.  The  line  extending  from  the  Delaware  River  aforesaid, 
at  a point  upon  said  river  fixed  and  marked  with  monuments  (which 
have  since  disappeared),  by  David  Rittenhouse  and  Samuel  Holland, 
in  the  month  of  November,  in  the  year  1774,  West,  as  the  same  was 
surveyed  and  marked  with  monuments  in  the  year  1786,  as  far  as 
the  ninetieth  milestone,  by  James  Clinton  and  Simeon  DeWitt, 
Commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  duly  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose  by  the  Governor  of  said  State,  in  pursu- 
ance of  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  said  State,  entitled,  “ An  Act. 
for  running  out  and  marking  the  Jurisdiction  line  between  this  State 
and  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,”  passed  7,  March,  1785, 
and  David  Rittenhouse,  Andrew  Porter,  and  Andrew  Ellicott, 
Commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania, 
duly  appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  Supreme  Executive  Council 
of  said  Commonwealth,  in  pursuance  of  an  Act  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  said  Commonwealth,  entitled,  “ An  Act  to  authorize  and 
enable  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  to  appoint  Commissioners, 
to  join  with  the  Commissioners  appointed,  or  to  be  appointed  on 
the  part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  to  ascertain  the  Northern 
boundary  of  this  State  from  the  river  Delaware  westward  to  the 
Northwest  corner  of  Pennsylvania,”  passed  31  March  1785,  and 
from  the  said  ninetieth  milestone,  West,  as  the  same  was  surveyed 
and  marked  with  monuments  and  posts  in  1787,  by  Abraham  ILar- 
denbergh  and  William  W.  Morris,  Commissioners  on  the  part  of 
the  said  State  of  New  York  duly  appointed  in  the  place  of  Simeon 
DeWitt  and  James  Clinton  aforesaid,  by  the  Governor  of  said  State, 
in  pursuance  of  the  Act  aforesaid,  and  the  Act  supplementary 
thereto,  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  said  State,  21  April,  1787,  and 
Andrew  Ellicott  and  Andrew  Porter  aforesaid,  Commissioners  on 
the  part  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  to  the  point  at 
which  said  line  is  intersected  by  the  Line  of  Cession  or  Meridian 
Boundary  hereinafter  described,  which  said  line,  so  surveyed  and 
marked  in  the  years  1786  and  1787,  has  since  been  acknowledged 
and  recognized  by  the  said  two  States  as  a part  of  the  limit  of  their 
respective  territory  and  jurisdiction,  shall,  notwithstanding  any 


No.  71.] 


27 


want  of  conformity  to  tlie  verbal  description  as  written  in  the 
Charter  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  granted  to  William  Penn 
in  the  year  1682,  or  as  recited  by  the  Commissioners  aforesaid, 
continue  to  be  the  boundary  or  partition  line  between  the  two  said 
States  from  the  Delaware  River  aforesaid  to  the  said  point  of  inter- 
section with  the  said  Line  of  Cession ; Provided,  that  wherever 
upon  said  line  the  locations  of  any  of  the  monuments  or  posts 
erected  by  the  said  Commissioners  in  1786  and  1787  have  been  lost 
and  cannot  otherwise  be  definitely  fixed,  then  and  in  that  case,  and 
in  every  case  where  it  is  required  to  establish  intervening  points  in 
said  line,  a straight  line  drawn  between  the  nearest  adjacent  monu- 
ments whose  localities  are  ascertained,  shall  be  understood  to  be  and 
shall  be,  the  true  Boundary  line. 

Third.  The  Line  of  Cession,  described  as  a meridian  line  drawn 
from  the  f orty-fifth  degree  of  North  latitude,  South  through  the  most 
westerly  bent  or  inclination  of  Lake  Ontario,  in  the  Deed  of  Cession 
to  the  United  States  of  certain  territory  claimed  by  the  State  of  New 
York,  lying  West  of  said  line,  executed  1 March  1781,  by  James 
Duane,  William  Ployd,  and  Alexander  McDougall,  Delegates  in 
Congress  of  said  United  States  from  the  said  State  of  New  York, 
in  pursuance  of  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  said  State,  entitled,  “ An 
Act  to  facilitate  the  Completion  of  the  Articles  of  Confederation 
and  perpetual  Union  among  the  United  States  of  America,”  passed 
19  February,  1780,  which  said  territory  was  afterward  conveyed  by 
the  United  States  aforesaid  to,  and  became  a part  of  the  territory 
and  jurisdiction  of,  the  said  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  as  the 
said  line  was  surveyed  and  marked  with  posts  and  monuments  of 
stone  in  the  year  1790,  by  Andrew  Ellicott,  who  was  duly  appointed 
for  that  purpose  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  pursuance 
of  a resolution  of  Congress  passed  19  August,  1789,  which  said  line, 
and  its  prolongation  due  North  into  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  until  it 
intersects  the  Northern  Boundary  of  the  United  States  aforesaid, 
have  since  been  acknowledged  and  recognized  by  the  said  two  States, 
as  a part  of  the  limit  of  their  respective  territory  and  jurisdiction, 
shall  notwithstanding  any  possible  want  of  conformity  to  the  verbal 
description  thereof  as  contained  in  said  Deed  of  Cession,  continue  to 
be  the  boundary  or  partition  line  between  the  two  said  States,  so  far 
as  said  line  so  surveyed  and  marked  in  1790,  shall  extend. 

Fourth.  The  monumental  marks  by  which  the  said  Boundary  line, 
except  such  portions  thereof  as  may  lie  within  the  waters  of  the 
Delaware  River  and  Lake  Erie,  shall  hereafter  be  known  and  recog- 
nized, are  hereby  declared  to  be: 

I.  The  original  monuments  of  stone  erected  in  the  years  1786  and 
1787,  by  the  Commissioners  aforesaid,  and  in  the  year  1790,  by 
Andrew  Ellicott  aforesaid,  as  the  same  have  been  restored  and  re- 
established in  their  original  positions,  or  have  been  replaced  by  gran- 
ite monuments  erected  in  the  years  1881, 1882,  1883,  1884,  and  1885 
by  H.  Wadsworth  Clarke,  Surveyor  on  the  part  of  the  State  of 


28  [Senate 

New  York,  and  Christopher  M.  Gere,  Surveyor  on  the  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania, duly  appointed  by  the  parties  hereto. 

II.  The  new  monuments  of  granite  erected  in  the  years  1881  to 
1885  inclusive,  by  the  aforesaid  surveyors  at  intervals  of  one  mile, 
more  or  less,  and  numbered  consecutively,  along  said  line  originally 
surveyed  and  marked  in  the  years  1786  and  1787,  beginning  from 
the  Delaware  River ; and  severally  marked  on  the  north  side  with 
the  letters  “N.  Y.,”  and  on  the  South  side  with  the  letters  “PA,” 
and  along  said  line  originally  surveyed  and  marked  in  the  year  1790, 
beginning  at  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  and  severally  marked  on  the 
east  side  with  the  letters  “ N.  Y.”  and  on  the  West  side  with  the 
letters  “PA” 

III.  The  new  monuments  of  granite  erected  by  the  said  surveyors, 
in  the  years  1881  to  1885  inclusive  aforesaid,  at  intervening  points 
on  said  line,  and  at  its  intersection  with  public  roads,  railroads,  and 
rivers,  and  at  other  points,  and  severally  marked  on  the  one  side 
with  the  letters  “ N.  Y.”  and  on  the  other  side  with  the  letters 
“ PA.” 

IY.  A large  monument  of  granite,  erected  in  the  year  1884,  by 
the  said  Surveyors,  600  feet  West  of  the  center  of  the  Delaware 
River  in  the  said  line  originally  fixed  in  the  year  1786,  to  mark 
its  eastern  terminus  : A large  monument  of  granite,  erected  in  the 
year  1884,  by  the  said  Surveyors  in  the  said  line  or  Meridian 
Boundary  as  originally  fixed  in  the  year  1790,  100  feet  north 
from  its  intersection  with  the  line  originally  surveyed  as  aforesaid 
in  the  year  1787,  which  said  point  of  intersection  is  marked  by  a 
small  monument  of  granite  buried  in  the  center  of  the  highway  in 
1884  by  the  said  Surveyors  ; and  also  a large  monument  of  granite, 
erected  in  the  year  1869,  by  John  Y.  L.  Pruyn,  George  R.  Perkins, 
Samuel  B.  Woolworth,  and  George  W.  Patterson,  on  the  part  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  William  Evans,  on  the  part  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  440  feet  south  of  the  original  monument,  erected  in 
the  year  1790,  by  Andrew  Ellicott  aforesaid,  upon  the  South  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  in  the  line  originally  surveyed  and  marked  by  him,  as 
aforesaid. 

Fifth.  The  field-book  of  said  Surveyors,  containing  the  notes  of 
the  re-surveys  along  said  line  in  the  years  1877, 1878,  and  1879  ; also 
the  u Record  of  Monuments  ’’prepared  by  said  Surveyors,  containing 
the  descriptions  of  the  locations  of  the  several  monuments  erected 
by  them,  and  of  the  witness  marks  thereto.  Also  the  Maps  of  said 
line,  and  the  vicinity  thereof,  showing  the  locations  of  said  monu- 
ments ; and  also  the  “ Diary  of  Operations  ” of  said  Surveyors,  under 
the  direction  of  the  parties  hereto  ; the  same  having  been  duly  authen- 
ticated by  the  signatures  of  the  said  Surveyors.  And  the  several 
documents  and  books  of  record,  containing  the  transactions  of  the 
parties  hereto  ; all  of  which  being  placed  on  file  in  the  office  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  of  New  York,  and  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of 
Internal  Affairs  of  Pennsylvania  shall  constitute  the  permanent  and 


No.  71.] 


29 


authentic  records  of  said  Boundary  line  and  are  hereby  adopted  by 
the  parties  hereto ; and  made  a part  of  this  agreement. 

Sixth.  This  Agreement  shall  become  binding  upon  the  two  States 
when  ratified  by  the  Legislatures  thereof  respectively;  and  when  con- 
firmed by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

In  Witness  whereof,  the  said  Commissioners  have  hereunto  set 
their  hands  and  seals,  in  duplicate,  the  Twenty-sixth  day  of  March 
1886  aforesaid. 

Executed  in  the  presence  of 
W itnesses. 

As  to  Henry  R.  Pierson, 

Edward  I.  Devlin, 

As  to  E.  W.  Leavenworth, 

H.  W.  Clarke, 

As  to  Chauncey  M.  Depew, 

Edward  I.  Devlin, 

As  to  C.  M.  Gere, 

A.  D.  Birchard, 

As  to  Robert  N.  Torrey, 

Andrew  Thompson, 


j-  H E.  PIERSON, 

| E.  W.  LEX VEN  W ORTH, 

| CHAUNCEY  M.  DEPEW, 
Ic.  M.  GERE, 

[•  ROBERT  N.  TORREY. 


Conclusion. 

The  commissioners  of  New  York  have  prepared  to  be  filed  along 
with  the  evidence  of  the  ratification  of  the  agreement  by  the  two 
States  and  of  its  approval  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
whenever  it  shall  be  received,  the  following  documents,  which  con- 
stitute permanent  and  authentic  records  of  the  boundary,  viz. : 

1.  The  duplicate  original  copy  of  the  agreement  signed  by  the 
several  commissioners. 

2.  The  duplicate  original  books  of  the  surveyors,  containing  the  de- 
scriptions of  the  locations  of  the  several  monuments  erected  by  them 
and  of  the  witness-marks  thereto. 

3.  The  duplicate  original  report  made  by  the  surveyors,  contain- 
ing the  account  of  their  work  in  ascertaining  and  marking  said  line. 

4.  The  duplicate  original  topographical  map  of  the  boundary 
line  and  vicinity. 

5.  The  duplicate  original  minutes  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
two  States  in  joint  session. 

6.  A volume  in  manuscript,  containing  a complete  record  of  all 
transactions  connected  with  the  work  of  ascertaining  and  re-mark- 
ing the  boundary  line. 

The  commissioners  have  great  satisfaction  in  thus  reporting  the 
entire  completion  of  the  work  intrusted  to  them  upon  this  bound- 
ary. They  desire  to  testify  to  the  admirable  spirit  of  cordiality  and 


30  [Senate,  No.  71.] 

harmony  with  which  the  commissioners  of  Pennsylvania  have  co- 
operated with  them  in  this  work. 

There  has  been  entire  agreement  between  the  commissioners  of 
the  two  States,  not  only  in  relation  to  the  general  principles  by 
which  they  were  to  be  guided,  but  also  in  all  their  discussions  per- 
taining to  the  details  of  their  work. 

It  is  believed  that  the  monuments  with  which  the  line  has  been 
marked  are  of  so  durable  a character,  and  have  been  so  substantially 
set,  that  they  are  not  likely  to  require  to  be  re-set  in  a-  very  long 
period. 

The  imperfect  and  comparatively  perishable  monuments  set  in 
1786  and  1787  have  served  to  preserve  the  line  for  nearly  a century. 
We  may  fairly  expect  that  the  more  substantial  and  indestructible 
monuments  with  which  it  has  now  been  marked  will  continue  for  a 
much  longer  period.  Even  if  the  monuments  projecting  above  the 
ground  shall  be  destroyed  or  moved,  it  will  always  be  possible,  from 
the  full  and  carefully  recorded  descriptions  of  the  points,  and  from 
the  underground  marks  which  are  entirely  indestructible,  to  find 
and  verify  these  points,  even  after  the  lapse  of  centuries. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

R.  R.  PIERSON, 

E.  W.  LEAVENWORTH, 

C.  M.  DEPEW, 

Commissio7iers  of  New  York. 


SURVEYOR’S  FINAL  REPORT. 


Surveyor’s  Preliminary  Letter. 

To  tl\e  Joint  Boundary  Commission  of  the  [States  of  JVew  Fork 
and  Pennsylvania  : 

Gentlemen — I have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a final  report 
of  the  operations  upon  the  Boundary  line  between  JSTew  York  and 
Pennsylvania  under  your  direction. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  report  I have  treated  of  the  history  of 
the  Boundary  quite  in  detail,  and  of  the  various  surveys  by  which  it 
was  established  and  by  which  it  has  been  affected,  before  the  com- 
mencement of  the  work  wThich  has  just  been  completed. 

The  Parallel  and  Meridian  Boundaries  have  been  taken  up  sepa- 
rately in  the  report  as  they  were  established  at  different  dates,  under 
different  authority,  ^nd  their  histories  are  almost  entirely  without 
connection. 

The  work  upon  the  reconnaissance  and  upon  the  final  adjustment 
and  permanent  marking  of  the  line,  under  your  direction,  are  also 
given  quite  minutely. 

The  preparation  of  the  report  has  involved  a large  amount  of 
careful  investigation,  personal  and  by  correspondence,  and  I have  en- 
deavored to  present  all  the  proceedings  connected  with  the  history  of 
this  important  Boundary  with  as  nearly  absolute  accuracy  as  possible. 

Annexed  to  the  report  are  several  appendices,  including  matters 
intimately  connected  with  the  subject-matter  of  the  report  itself. 
Among  them  a re,  first,  abstracts  from  the  official  records  which  have 
been  prepared  to  be  deposited  in  the  proper  offices  in  Albany  and 
Harrisburg ; second , abstracts  from  the  field-notes  of  original  sur- 
veys along  and  adjacent  to  the  Boundary,  to  which  frequent  recourse 
was  liadduringthe  progress  of  the  work  under  the  Joint  Commission, 
and  to  which  frequent  reference  is  made  in  the  report  and  records ; 
third , historical  sketches  of  transactions  since  the  Boundary  was  estab- 
lished, which  form  pendants  to  the  preliminary  history  of  the  line. 

Appendices  B,  C,  D,  and  E,  especially,  are  intended  as  digests  of 
the  official  records,  which  it  is  important  should  be  published  for  the 
general  information  of  the  public. 

Appendix  N contains  transcripts  of  the  official  maps,  upon  a re- 
duced scale,  showing  the  locations  of  all  the  monuments. 


32 


[Senate 


The  various  laws  of  both  States  relating  to  the  re-survey  of  the 
Boundary  under  which  the  Joint  Commission  has  been  acting  are 
embodied  in  Appendix  A. 

Accompanying  the  report  are  the  following  documents,  etc., 
which  have  been  prepared  in  duplicate  as  the  official  record  of  the 
operations  of  the  Joint  Commission,  to  be  deposited  in  the  offices  of 
the  Secretary  of  State,  in  Albany,  New  York,  and  of  the  Secretary 
of  Internal  Affairs  in  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania  : 

I.  A field-book  of  the  reconnaissance,  with  memoranda  of  the 
various  monuments. 

II.  A “ Record  of  Monuments,”  classified  by  counties,  giving 
wiinute  descriptions  of  all  the  new  monuments  and  their  locations, 
with  data  for  their  ready  identification. 

III.  A series  of  maps,  by  counties,  showing  the  location  of  the 
new  monuments. 

IY.  And  a “ Diary  of  Operations  ” from  1877  to  the  present  time. 

I earnestly  recommend  that  extracts  from  the  “ Record  of  Monu- 
ments,” and  transcripts  from  the  maps,  be  also  filed  in  the  office  of 
the  county  clerk  or  register  of  each  county,  adjoining  the  Boundary, 
in  each  State,  each  extract  and  transcript  not  necessarily  exhibit- 
ing more  of  the  Boundary  than  is  adjacent  to  the  county  to  which 
it  relates.  These  records  and  maps  will  then  become  accessible  to 
that  portion  of  the  public  more  immediately  interested. 

I would  further  recommend  that  the  monuments  be,  by  legislative 
act,  placed  under  the  official  inspection,  supervision  and  care  of  the 
highway  officials  of  the  various  towns,  upon  the  boundaries  of  which 
they  stand,  with  suitable  regulations  and  penalties. 

In  closing  I must  acknowledge  the  courtesy  of  innumerable 
gentlemen  in  various  localities  in  both  States,  accorded  me  as  the 
representative  of  the  Joint  Commission,  in  responding  to  requests  for 
information,  and  in  affording  me  opportunities  of  examining  field- 
books,  maps  and  other  documents ; and  it  would  seem  invidious  to 
name  some  without  enumerating  all  of  them,  which  would  be  almost 
impossible.  Several  gentlemen,  however,  residing  in  localities  adja- 
cent to  the  line,  took  especial  personal  interest  in  our  operations, 
spending  considerable  time  upon  the  line  with  the  party,  furnishing 
copies  of  original  field-notes  and  maps,  or  loaning  valuable  papers. 
Among  these  I cannot  refrain  from  referring  to  Mr.  M.  R.  Hulse 
of  Deposit,  N.  Y.,  Hon.  W.  F.  Warner  of  Waverly,  N.  Y.,  Z.  F. 
Walker,  Esq.,  of  Athens,  Penn.,  Robert  King,  Esq.,  of  Smethport, 
Penn.,  Hon.  O.  D.  Ilincklev  of  Clymer,  N.  Y.,  George  Platt,  Esq., 
of  Girard,  Penn.,  and  W.  A.  Crosbv,  Esq.,  of  Coudersport,  Penn. 
I must  not  omit  the  late  Jacob  Fatzinger,  Jr.,  of  Weaversville, 
Northampton  county,  Penn.,  in  whose  hands  Col.  Gere  and  myself 
found  George  Palmer’s  surveys  made  near  the  Initial  Point  more 
than  a hundred  years  ago.  Since  Mr.  Fatzinger’s  death  his  large 
and  valuable  collection  of  papers  has  been  deposited  with  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Philadelphia. 


No.  71.] 


33 


The  gentlemen  in  charge  of  the  land  offices  of  the  various  large 
estates  in  western  New-  York  and  Pennsylvania  have  always  readily 
complied  with  every  request  for  information.  My  correspondence 
during  the  entire  time  has  been  quite  extensive,  and,  with  but  one  or 
two  exceptions,  it  has  met  with  courteous  responses. 

Nor  can  I let  this  opportunity  pass  without  acknowledging  my 
great  indebtedness  to  Commissioner  Gere,  who  has  acted  as  surveyor 
on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania. 

And  I have  to  thank  the  other  gentlemen  of  the  Joint  Commis- 
sion for  the  confidence  which  has  been  reposed  in  me  during  all 
these  years,  and  for  the  uniform  courtesy  with  which  I have  been 
treated. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  Col.  James  Worrall,  the  chair- 
man of  the  Joint  Commission,  was  not  spared  to  see  the  completion 
of  a work  in  which  he  took  such  an  absorbing  personal  interest. 

The  following  abstract  gives  in  a general  way  the  contents  of  the 
report  and  appendices. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

H.  W.  CLARKE, 

Civil  Engineer. 

Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  1 December , 1885. 

I concur  in  the  accompanying  report. 

C.  M.  GERE. 

Montrose,  Penn.,  1 December , 1885. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.J  5 


34 


[Senate 


ABSTRACT  OF  CONTENTS  OF  REPORT. 


Preliminary. 

Parallel  Boundary. 

Early  History.  Grants  to  the  Duke  of  York  and  William  Penn. 
Jealousy  of  the  New  Yorkers  toward  the  Proprietaries  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

South  Boundary  of  New  York. 

Early  maps  exhibiting  the  Boundary. 

Ambiguity  in  William  Penn’s  Charter. 

Pennsylvania’s  claims  north  of  the  parallel  of  forty-two  degrees. 
Indian  treaty  of  1768. 

The  Proprietaries  ask  to  have  their  boundaries  fixed. 

Joint  action  of  the  Colonies  and  establishment  of  the  Initial  Point. 
Action  of  the  States  preliminary  to  a resumption  of  the  survey. 
Independent  surveys  for  the  location  of  lands. 

Survey  of  1786-7. 

Details  of  operations  and  incidents  in  1786-7. 

Original  monuments. 

Confirmation  by  statute.  Error  in  Revised  Statutes  of  New  York. 
Early  land  surveys  adjacent  to  the  Boundary. 

Recent  ex  parte  official  examinations  of  portions  of  the  Boundary. 
Joint  reconnaissance  of  1877-9. 

Astronomical  observations  by  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic 
Survey;  and  operations  of  the  New  York  State  Survey. 

Initial  Point : Its  probable  position. 

Condition  of  the  Boundary  as  developed  by  the  reconnaissance. 
Discussion  by  the  Commissioners  of  the  proper  method  of  adjustment. 
The  new  monuments  and  final  adjustment:  Operations  of  1881-4. 

Adjustment. 

Meridian  Boundary, 

Preliminary  historical  sketch. 

Original  surveys. 

Original  monuments. 

Reconnaissance  of  1878. 

Initial  monument  of  1869. 

Final  adjustment ; setting  of  monuments. 

Appendix. 

A.  Laws  relating  to  re-survey  of  the  Boundary. 

AA.  Instructions  to  Messrs.  Gere  and  Clarke. 

B.  Schedule  cf  Monuments,  with  description  of  locations. 


35 


No.  71.] 

C.  Table  of  Angular  Deflections. 

D.  Astronomical  Stations;  and  results  of  observations. 

E.  County  and  town  corners. 

F.  Names  of  Commissioners  ; and  persons  connected  with  the 

survey,  1877-1885. 

G.  George  Palmer’s  papers  and  surveys  : 

I.  Commission  as  Deputy  Surveyor. 

II.  Survey  of  the  Delaware  river  up  to  the  Initial  Point. 

III.  44  Journal  up  Delaware”  in  1784,  and  notes  of  sur- 

vey from  the  Delaware  to  the  Susquehanna. 

IV.  Drake  and  Delong’s  44  Journal  up  Susquehanna  and 

across  to  Delaware,”  June,  1784. 

V.  Letter  from  Surveyor-General  Lukens. 

VI.  Extracts  from  field -notes  of  Warrant  surveys. 

H.  Holland  Land  Company’s  surveys: 

I.  Description  of  the  marks  upon  posts  and  witness  trees. 

II.  Extracts  from  Augustus  Porter’s  Field  Book  (No.  2). 

III.  Extract  from  Seth  Pease’s  traverse  of  the  shore  of  Lake 
Erie. 

IV-IX.  Record  of  surveys  of  south  line  of  Ranges  1 to  6. 

X.  Record  of  survey  of  south  end  of  44  Willink  Strip.” 
XI-XVIII.  Record  of  surveys  of  south  line  of  Ranges  7 to  14. 

XIX.  Record  of  surveys  of  south  and  west  lines  of  Range  15. 

J.  Resurvevs  of  the  Keating  lands  in  Pennsylvania. 

K.  Representation  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  on  ancient 

maps. 

L.  Disputes  with  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts. 

I.  The  Massachusetts  claim  against  New  York. 

II.  The  Connecticut  claim  against  Pennsylvania. 

III.  The  44  Connecticut  Gore  ” in  New  York. 

M.  Erie  Triangle. 

N.  Maps  of  the  Boundary  line. 

Sketches  Illustrating  the  Report. 

No.  1.  Copy  of  an  ancient  map  showing  the  Boundary  line  at  43°. 
No.  2.  Rittenhouse  and  Holland’s  sketch  of  the  Initial  Point,  1774. 
No.  3.  Sketch  of  George  Palmer’s  survey  between  the  Delaware  and 
Susquehanna  rivers,  1784. 

No.  4.  Relative  position  of  Palmer’s  line  and  the  present  boundary. 
No.  5.  Interference  of  Donation  Lands  at  the  west  end  of  the 
Boundary. 

No.  (>.  Eighth  Latitude  Stone. 

No.  7.  Delaware  river  near  the  Initial  Point,  1885. 

No.  8.  Irregularities  in  the  Boundary  between  milestones  135  and 
159. 

No.  9.  Initial  monument  set  1884. 

No.  10.  Showing  the  adjustment  of  the  second  section. 

No.  11.  Showing  the  irregularities  between  milestones  86  and  95. 


36  [Senate, 

No.  12.  Showing  the  irregularities  in  the  vicinity  of  milestones  115 
and  119. 

No.  13.  Showing  the  angles  in  the  Boundary  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Seventh  Latitude  Stone  (milestone  167  it)- 

No.  14.  Showing  the  adjustment  of  the  Boundary  west  of  milestone 
208. 

No.  15.  Adjustment  of  south  end  of  Meridian  Boundary. 

Appendix  N contains  reduced  copies  of  the  official  maps,  showing  the 
locations  of  all  the  new  monuments. 


No.  71.] 


37 


PRELIMINARY. 


The  work  upon  which  we  have  been  engaged  for  several  years 
past  undoubtedly  grew  out  of  the  report  submitted  by  Dr.  C.  H. 
F.  Peters,  director  of  the  Litchfield  Observatory  at  Hamilton  Col- 
lege, to  the  Regents  of  the  University  in  1866.  Dr.  Peters,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Regents,  had  previously  visited  several  points  in 
the  State  for  the  purpose  of  making  astronomical  observations  for 
latitude  and  longitude.  One  of  these  points  was  the  northern  ex- 
tremity of  the  Meridian  Boundary,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie  in  1865. 
In  his  report  to  the  Regents  giving  the  results  of  his  observations, 
referring  to  the  original  monument  which  marked  the  initial  point 
of  this  boundary,  he  says: 

“ This  important  monument  is  now  in  very  bad  condition.  What 
remains  of  it  consists  of  a slab  four  inches  thick,  two  feet  in  length, 
and  reaching  about  one  foot  above  the  ground  with  its  longer  faces 
placed  parallel  to  the  meridian.  The  upper  portion,  which  once 
contained  the  inscription,  is  evidently  cut  off  by  wilful  destruction. 
But  a greater  danger  even  is  threatening  these  remnants  by  the 
inroad  of  the  Lake.  Squire  Mann,  who  formerly  owned  the  adjacent 
lot,  and  to  whom  I am  indebted  for  much  valuable  information 
about  the  locality,  stated  that  within  his  recollection  the  distance 
from  the  stone  to  the  edge  of  the  bluff  upon  which  it  stands, 
was  several  rods,  while  now  it  is  only  seven  feet  A It  must  be  ex- 
pected therefore,  that  within  a few  years  the  site  of  the  stone  will 
become  a prey  of  the  waves,  and  it  seems  desirable  that  a new  and 
durable  monument,  more  inland,  be  erected  to  mark  the  partition  be- 
tween the  two  great  States.”f 

“In  the  year  1857,  an  appropriation  was  made  by  the  Legislature 
to  the  Regents,  which  was  continued  and  renewed  in  1858  to  de- 
fray the  expenses  of  ascertaining  the  true  meridian  of  such  impor- 
tant locality  or  localities  as  the  Board  should  prescribe. 

“ In  this  State,  the  longitude  of  only  one  point,  the  private  ob- 
servatory of  Mr.  Rutherford,  at  the  corner  of  Second  Avenue  and 
Eleventh  Street  in  the  city  of  New  York,  had  been  thus  deter- 
mined § prior  to  the  year  1857 

“ Desirous  to  bring  to  the  wrork  committed  to  them  the  highest 
accuracy  and  the  best  practical  skill,  the  Regents  accepted  a propo- 

* Holland  Land  Company  Surveyors  placed  a stake  in  1798,  39  links  north  of 
the  monument.  In  1878  the  site  of  the  monument  was  in  the  edge  of  the  bluff, 
the  monument  itself  had  dropped  off. 

f Assembly  Documents,  1866,  No.  161. 

fThe  appropriation  of  1858,  was  “ for  the  purpose  of  continuing  the  determina- 
tion of  longitude  ” under  the  law  of  the  preceding  year. 

§The  method  adopted  in  the  Coast  Survey  determinations  is  referred  to. 


38 


[Senate 


sition  from  the  Trustees  of  the  Dudley  Observatory  to  determine 
the  longitude  of  that  Institution,  it  being  understood  that  the  work 
should  proceed  with  the  aid  and  under  the  direction  of  the  Scien- 
tific Council  of  that  Observatory  of  which  Professor  Bache,  Super- 
intendent of  the  Coast  Survey,  was  a member.  * * * 

“ The  Regents  afterwards  accepted  a proposition  from  the  Trustees 
of  Hamilton  College,  first  to  determine  the  longitude  of  their 
recently  erected  Observatory,  and  then  that  of  several  other  import- 
ant points  in  the  State.  Under  these  arrangements,  the  means 
placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Regents  have  sufficed  to  determine  the 
longitude  of  seven  points,  to-wit : — Dudley  Observatory,  Hamilton 
College  Observatory,  Syracuse,  Buffalo,  Elmira,  Ogdensburgh,  and 
the  first  or  most  northerly  monument  on  the  western  Boundary  of 
the  State 

“ Though  the  Legislature  directed  the  determination  of  longitudes 
only,  the  Regents  have  also  had  the  corresponding  latitudes  ascer- 
tained in  the  case  of  Syracuse,  Buffalo,  Ogdensburgh,  and  the  first 
monument  of  the  western  boundary.  The  latitude  of  each  of  the 
other  stations  had  been  previously  ascertained.”  * 

In  a communication  to  the  Legislature  15th  April,  1867,  referring 
to  the  report  transmitting  Dr.  Peters’  report,  the  Regents  close  by 
saying : 

4 4 During  the  past  year,  the  Regents  have  taken  some  pains  to 
ascertain,  by  correspondence,  the  condition  of  the  monument  origi- 
nally erected  at  the  intersection  of  the  southern  and  western  bound- 
aries of  the  State,  and  they  are  informed  that  the  site  of  this 
monument  is  at  or  near  the  center  of  a highway  with  no  visible 
mark  to  denote  its  position.  It  is  quite  probable  that  many  of  the 
milestones  and  other  landmarks  originally  placed  upon  the  bounda- 
ries of  the  State  are  becoming  obliterated,  and  the  Regents,  there- 
fore, suggest  the  propriety  of  such  an  appropriation  by  the  Legis- 
lature as  may  enable  them  to  ascertain  the  facts  in  relation  to  such 
monuments,  and  to  meet  the  necessary  expenses  of  collecting  such 
historic  material  as  may  be  needed  for  the  preparation  of  an  account 
of  the  several  boundaries  of  the  State,  as  before  suggested.” 

And  soon  after,  the  Legislature  by  resolution  of  the  Senate  au- 
thorized the  Regents  44  to  cause  an  examination  to  be  instituted  as  to 
the  condition  and  true  location  of  the  monuments  which  mark  the 
several  boundaries  of  the  State,  and  to  ascertain  whether  any  and 
what  action  may  be  needed  to  preserve  or  renew  them  ; and  also  to 
procure  and  put  in  form  such  historical  information  in  regard  to  the 
said  boundaries  as  they  may  deem  to  be  of  interest,  at  an  expense  in 
the  whole,  not  to  exceed  three  thousand  dollars,  and  to  report  their 
proceedings  under  this  resolution  to  the  Legislature.” 

In  pursuance  of  these  instructions  the  Regents,  by  correspondence 
carried  on  through  their  indefatigable  Assistant  Secretary,  the  late  Dr. 
D.  J.  Pratt,  endeavored  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  the  monu- 

*N.  Y.  Senate  Doc.,  1862,  No.  95,  p.  5- 


No.  71.] 


39 


ments  along  this  Boundary,  and  to  obtain,  so  far  as  possible,  such 
notes  or  documents  from  public  or  private  sources  as  would  in  any 
manner  throw  light  upon  its  history  or  upon  the  original  surveys. 
The  result  of  this  correspondence  is  embodied  in  New  York  Senate 
Document  No.  108  (1873),  at  pages  341,  etc.  The  efforts  of  Dr. 
Pratt  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  the  monuments  along  the  line 
were  in  a great  measure  futile,  the  officials  of  but  one  county, 
Chautauqua,  taking  interest  enough  in  the  subject  to  co-operate 
with  the  Regents  in  the  investigation. 

A new  granite  monument  was  placed  near  the  northern  extremity 
of  the  Meridian  Boundary  in  1869,  and  with  this  the  subject  rested 
until  the  winter  of  1875,  when  the  Regents  of  the  University  were 
again  charged  by  chapter  424  of  the  Laws  of  1875  with  the  duty  of 
“ an  examination  as  to  the  true  location  of  the  monuments  which 
mark  the  several  boundaries  of  the  State.” 

The  execution  of  this  duty  was  intrusted  by  the  Board  of  Regents 
to  a committee  consisting  of  Chancellor  J.  V.  L.  Pruyn,  Hon. 
Henry  R.  Pierson,  and  Professor  George  R.  Perkins.  Mr.  Perkins 
died  soon  after,  and  the  vacancy  was  filled  by  the  appointment  of 
Hon.  Chauncev  M.  Depew.  Afterward,  upon  the  death  of  of  Chan- 
cellor Pruyn,  General  E.  W.  Leavenworth  was  placed  upon  the  com- 
mission. 

The  co-operation  of  Pennsylvania  was  obtained  through  an  act  of 
the  Legislature  in  1876,  requiring  the  Governor  to  appoint  a com- 
mission to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  New  York  commission. 
Governor  Ilartranft  designated  as  commissioners  Colonel  James 
Worrall  of  Harrisburg,  Colonel  C.  M.  Gere  of  Montrose,  and  Cap- 
tain Robert  N.  Torrey  of  Honesdalc. *  ** 

The  two  commissions  met  in  New  York  city  in  May,  1877, 
and  organized  as  a Joint  Commission,  with  Colonel  James  Worrall  as 
chairman,  and  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Wool  worth  as  secretary,  and 
decided  upon  a thorough  reconnaissance  of  the  Boundary.  Early  in 
June,  I was  requested  to  take  charge  of  the  survey  on  the  part  of 
New  York,  and  upon  the  19th  of  that  month  the  reconnais- 
sance was  commenced  near  the  Delaware  river,  Commissioner  Gere 
acting  as  surveyor  on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania.  This  reconnaissance 
or  preliminary  survey  was  not  completed  until  October,  1879.  De- 
tailed reports  of  progress  were  transmitted  to  the  commissioners, 
and  were  published  in  New  York  Assembly  Documents  No.  49  of 
1878,  No.  91  of  1879,  and  No.  100  of  1880,  and  in  the  reports  of 
the  Secretary  of  Internal  Affairs  of  Pennsylvania  for  1877-8-9  and 
1880. 

Before  entering  upon  the  discussion  of  the  Boundary  as  it  was 
found  upon  the  reconnaissance,  it  is  worth  while  to  review  the  his- 
tory of  the  establishment  of  the  line,  and  the  various  early  surveys 
connected  with  it. 

* Colonel  Worrall  died  April  1st,  1885.  The  vacancy  caused  by  his  death  was  not 

filled. 


40 


[Senate 


PARALLEL  BOUNDARY. 


Early  History  — Grants  to  the  Duke  of  York  and  William 

Penn. 

The  first  grant  of  lands  to  the  Duke  of  York  in  1664  covered  an 
indefinite  amount  of  territory  extending  along  the  ocean  from  the 
St.  Croix  river  to  a certain  place  called  Peinaquid,  and  from  the  west 
side  of  the  Connecticut  river  to  the  east  side  of  Delaware  bay,  in- 
cluding the  “ River  called  Hudson’s  River,”  and  all  the  islands  lying 
south  of  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut.  Its  extent 
inland  was  not  limited.  The  inference  is  that  the  grant  was  intended 
to  extend  westward  to  the  “ South  Sea”  in  the  same  manner  as 
granted  to  the  colonies  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.'*  That 
part  of  the  grant  included  in  the  following  words  : “Together  alsoe 
with  the  said  River  called  Hudson's  River  and  all  the  land  from  the 
west  side  of  Connectecutte  River  to  the  East  side  of  De  la  Ware 
Bay,”  interfered  with  the  previous  grants  to  Massachusetts  and  Con- 
necticut. These  interferences  were  settled  after  the  Revolution  in  a 
manner  which  may  be  referred  to  farther  on.  (See  Appendix  L.) 

This  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York  was  confirmed  by  a new  patent, 
29th  June,  1664.  On  the  same  day  the  Duke  of  York  released  the 
Province  (now  State)  of  New  Jersey  to  John  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir 
George  Carteret. 

The  Charter  to  William  Penn,  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  granted  4th  March  1681,  by  Charles  the  Second.  The  boundaries 
• are  more  definitely  described  than  those  in  the  charter  to  the  Duke 
of  York  and  are  as  follows: 

“ All  that  Tract  or  parte  of  land  in  America  with  all  the  Islands 
therein  conteyned  as  the  same  is  bounded  on  the  East  by  Delaware 
River,  from  twelve  miles  distance  Northwards  of  New  Castle  Towne 
vnto  the  three  and  fortieth  degree  of  Northerne  Latitude  if  the  said 
River  doeth  extend  soe  farre  Northwards  But  if  the  said  River 
shall  not  extend  soe  farre  Northward,  then  by  the  said  River  soe  farr 
as  it  doth  extend  and  from  the  head  of  the  said  River  the  Easterne 
Bounds  are  to  bee  determined  by  a Meridian  Line  to  bee  drawnefrom 
the  head  of  the  said  River  vnto  the  said  three  and  fortieth  degree. 
The  said  lands  to  extend  westwards  five  degrees  in  longitude  to  bee 
computed  from  the  said  Easterne  Bounds  and  the  said  lands  to  bee 
bounded  on  the  North  by  the  beginning  of  the  three  and  fortieth 
degree  of  Northern  Latitude”  

Although  the  description  of  the  boundaries  of  the  Province  con- 
tained in  this  charter  are  quite  definite,  there  is  still  an  apparent  am- 

*The  King,  eighteen  years  afterward,  by  liis  grant  to  Penn,  practically  made 
the  Delaware  river  the  western  limit  of  the  Province  of  New  York. 


No.  71.] 


ttl 

biguity  which  somewhat  confused  the  ideas  of  high  officials  of  the 
Province  years  afterward,  as  to  the  real  extent  of  its  territory  toward 
the  north.  This  discrepancy  will  be  referred  to  hereafter. 

The  Duke  of  York  surrendered  any  claim  he  might  have  over  this 
territory  by  a deed  to  Penn,  31  August,  1682.  It  was  a shrewd 
move  on  the  part  of  Penn  to  require  this  quit-claim  from  the  Duke 
of  York.  11  is  charter  being  prior  to  Penn’s,  and  the  boundaries 
described  therein  not  being  very  clear,  simply  specifying  a certain 
frontage  upon  the  ocean,  as  the  grants  in  those  days  were  generally 
made,  his  domain  might  be  construed  to  reach  to  the  “ South  Sea,” 
which  would  have  covered  all  the  lands  granted  to  Penn.  The  Con- 
necticut claim  under  this  construction  of  its  charter  was  not  settled 
until  after  the  Revolution.  (See  II,  Appendix  L.) 

Thus  more  than  ninety  years  before  any  attempt  was  made  to  fix 
the  boundary  between  the  Provinces  upon  the  ground,  the  northern 
boundary  of  Pennsylvania  ^vas  defined,  and  the  Duke  of  York,  by 
his  release,  accepted  it  as  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Province  of 
New  York. 

Jealousy  of  the  New  Yorkers  toward  the  Proprietaries  of 

Pennsylvania. 

Before  the  creation  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  the  mer- 
chants and  traders  of  New  York  had  found  the  wilderness  adjacent 
to  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna  rivers  a prolific  source  of  profit, 
and  the  separation  of  so  large  a portion  of  it,  and  the  diversion  of 
its  Indian  traffic  to  a very  thrifty  rival  city,  was  taken  quite  to  heart 
by  them;  and  the  shrinkage  in  the  New  York  trade  seems  to  have 
been  likely  to  affect  the  ducal  revenue,  for  we  find  that  Sir  John 
Werden,  secretary  to  the  Duke  of  York,  wrote  10  March,  1684,  to 
Governor  Dongan,  who  had  been  commissioned  about  six  months 
after  the  patent  was  issued  to  Penn,  as  follows: 

“ The  Commrs  are  unanimous  in  it,  that  noe  lands  beyond  the 
bounds  of  E.  and  West  Jersey  (betwixt  the  Rivers)  ought  to  be  sepa- 
rated from  yor  governemt  upon  any  termes,  and  yk  you  should  use 
great  care  to  hinder  Mr  Pen  and  the  inhabitts  of  both  Jerseys  from 
obstructing  ye  Peltry  trade  of  New  York,  and  y*  in  ordr  to  ys  you 
should  prevent  all  you  can  the  uniteing  of  any  part  of  either  Jersey 
with  Mr  Pen  (who  as  you  observe)  is  very  intent  on  his  owne  inter- 
est in  those  parts.”* 

And  again,  27  August  following,  he  writes:  “ Touching  Susque- 

hannah  River  or  lands  abl  it  or  trade  in  it,  wch  the  Indians  convey  to 
you  or  invite  you  to,  we  thinke  you  will  doe  well  to  preserve  yor  in- 
terest there  as  much  as  possible  that  soe  nothing  more  may  goe  away 
to  Mr  Penn  or  ether  New  Jerseys.  For  it  is  apparent  they  are  apt 
enough  to  stretch  their  priviledges  as  well  as  the  people  of  New 
England  have  beene.”f 

f N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  iii,  350. 


* X.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  iii,  341. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


6 


42 


[Senate 


The  agents  of  the  Duke  of  York  seem  to  have  been  very  appre- 
hensive that  Mr.  Penn  desired  to  control  the  traffic  of  the  entire 
Susquehanna  valley,  as  well  as  to  get  possession  of  the  territory 
which  embraced  it.  The  Onondaga  and  Cayuga  Indians,  whose 
hunting  grounds  would  have  been  included  in  the  limits  of  Penn’s 
Province,  as  Governor  Hamilton  claimed  them  seventy  years  after- 
ward, seem  to  have  preferred  to  remain  under  the  patronage  of  their 
New  York  friends.  In  August,  1684,  they  made  the  following 
propositions  to  Governor  Effingham,  of  Virginia,  and  Governor  Don- 
gan,  of  New  York: 

“ Wee  have  putt  all  our  land  and  our  seifs  under  the  Protection  of 
the  great  Duke  of  York,  the  brother  of  your  great  Sacliim  ; we 
have  given  the  Susquehanne  River  which  we  wonn  with  the  sword 

to  this  Government and  will  not  that  any  of  your  Penns 

people  shall  settle  upon  the  Susquehanne  River;  That 

we  do  putt  the  Susquehanne  River  above  the  Wasbinta  or  falls  and 
all  the  rest  of  our  land  under  the  great  Duke  of  York  and  to  no 
body  else. 


“ And  you  great  man  of  Virginia,  meaning  the  Lord  Effingham 
Govern1,  of  Virginia,  We  let  you  know  that  Great  Penn  did  speak 
to  us  here  in  Corlaer’s  house  by  his  Agents,  and  desired  to  buy  the 
Susquehanne  River,  but  we  would  not  hearken  to  him  nor  come 

under  His  Government ” 

Meanwhile  Charles  I,  who  had  granted  Penn  his  charter,  died, 
and  the  Duke  of  York  himself  became  king.  The  attack  on  Penn’s 
privileges  was  renewed  upon  recommendation  of  the  Lords  of  Trade 
in  a report  to  the  king  dated  15  July,  1685,  in  which  they  state: 
“ Wee  have  also  received  a Lre  from  ye  Mayor  Aldermen  & 
principal  Officers  of  ye  Citty  of  New  York  dated  ye  13th  of  May 
last  setting  forth  that  since  yor  Maty  hath  been  pleased  to  prmit 
Delaware  & ye  two  Jerseys  to  be  separated  from  ye  Govmt  of  New 
York  that  City  hath  extreamly  suffered  by  the  loss  of  at  least 
one  third  pfc  of  its  Trade  & hath  ever  since  much  decayed  in 
the  number  of  Inhabitants  Rents  & Buildings  And  that  yor  Mats 
Revenue  doth  likewise  suffer  thereby  whereupon  wee  likewise  offer 
or  opinions  that  yor  Mats  Attorney  Grail,  may  have  directions  to  con- 
sider the  several  Grants  and  Proprietyes  of  East  & West  New  Jer- 
sey & of  Delaware  aforemericoned  & to  enter  ye  like  writs  of  Quo 
Warranto  against  ye  respective  Proprietors  if  he  shall  find  cause  it 
being  of  very  great  & growing  prejudice  to  yor  Mats  affaires  in  ye 
plantacon  & to  yor  Customs  here  that  such  independent  Govern- 
ments be  kept  up  and  maintained  wthout  a nearer  & more  Ime- 
diate  Dependance  on  yor  Maty.”f 

The  King  approved  the  recommendation  and  directed  the  Attor- 

*N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  iii,  417-8.  See,  also,  Indian  Deeds,  Idem,  iv,  908-911,  and 
V,  800-1. 

f N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  iii,  362. 


No.  71.] 


43 


ney-General  to  enter  the  writs,  and  the  next  April  the  Attorney- 
General  was  further  directed  to  renew  the  writs  and  to  prosecute 
them  to  effect. 

Governor  Dongan  was  re-commissioned  and,  in  a long  report  to 
the  Lords  of  Trade,  dated  22  February,  1687,  he  took  up  the  sub- 
ject of  the  encroachments  of  Penn’s  agents  as  follows  : 

u Further  if  Pensylvania  bee  continued  as  by  Charter  running 
five  degrees  to  the  Westward  it  will  take  in  the  most  of  the  five  Na- 
tions that  lye  to  the  West  ward  of  Albany,  and  the  whole  Beaver  & 
Peltry  Trade  of  that  Place,  the  consequence  whereof  will  bee  the  De- 
population of  this  Gov  era  nP  for  the  people  must  follow  the  Trade. 
Those  Indians  & the  people  of  this  Government  have  been  in 
continued  peace  & amity  one  with  another  these  fifty  years.  And 
those  Indians  about  forty  years  agoe  did  annex  their  Lands  to  this 
Govern np  & have  ever  since  constantly  renewed  the  same  with 
every  Governor  that  has  been  here  both  in  the  time  of  the  Dutch  & 
the  English  & in  particular  to  myself  wTho  have  given  them  largely 
in  consideration  of  their  lands.  And  I am  certainly  informed,  that 
they  have  declared  they  will  goe  and  live  on  ye  other  side  of  the 
lake  than  bee  under  any  other  Go  verm1  on  this  than  ours.  En 
deavors  have  been  used  (tho  to  noe  purpose)  to  prsuade  some  of  our 
Traders  who  speak  the  language  to  goe  and  live  upon  the  Susque- 
hanna River  tho  I cannot  find  out  yet  by  whom  this  has  been  made 


“ I cannot  beleive  that  ever  it  was  the  Kings  intention  to  grant 
away  soe  considerable  a part  of  this  government  which  has  been  so 
long  appropriated  to  it  & even  the  people  think  it  as  a part  of  them- 
selves and  would  be  much  troubled  at  a separation  from  soe  good 
and  ancient  neighbours  that  at  first  of  their  own  free  wills  became  soe 
and  have  ever  since  continued  with  such  constancy  to  desire  and 
maintain  a mutual  friendship  and  correspondence.  If  therefore 
his  Mat7  were  pleased  to  have  a line  run  from  41  d and  40  m in 
Delaware  River  to  the  Falls  upon  the  Susquehanna,*  and  to  let  Mr 
Pen  keep  all  below  that  it  would  be  sufficient  for  him  the  bounds 
below  it  being  conjectured  to  contain  more  than  all  England  besides 
the  lower  Countys  which  is  near  upon  100.  miles  from  the  Cape  up 
the  River ; And  in  breadth  more  than  thirty  miles,  as  is  generally 
beleeved 

“ To  preserve  the  Beaver  & Peltry  Trade  for  this  and  Albany, 
and  to  bee  an  encouragement  to  Our  Beever  Hunters  I desire  I may 
have  order  to  erect  a Campagne  Fort  upon  Delaware  in  41  d 40  m ; 
another  upon  the  Susquehanna  where  his  Mat7  shall  think  fit  Mr 

Pens  bounds  shall  terminate 

“ I send  a Map  by  Mr  Spragg  whereby  your  Lop8  may  see  the  sev- 
eral Goverm19  &c  how  they  lye 

“ For  the  Longitude,  Latitude,  and  contents  of  this  Government 
I refer  yor  Lops  to  the  afore  mentioned  Map,  wherein  you  will  see  in 
what  narrow  Bounds  wee  are  cooped  up 


* Wyalusing  Falls  (?),  Bradford  Co.,  Penn. 


u 


[Senate 


“ The  Land  of  this  Governm*  is  generally  barren  rocky  land,  ex- 
cept the  Land  wee  have  right  to  on  the  Susquehanna-River  & up 
into  the  Country  amongst  our  Indians  where  there  are  great  quanti- 
ties very  good  * 

Governor  Dongan  soon  afterward  wrote  to  the  King  : — “ Mr  Penn 
hath  written  that  I was  to  be  called  home  and  I doe  not  doubt  but 
would  do  all  hee  can  to  effect  it,  having  noe  great  kindness  for  mee, 
because  I did  not  consent  to  his  having  Susquehannah  River.”  f 
Mr.  Penn  was  too  enterprising  a neighbor  for  the  New  York 
people  who  had  had  a monopoly  of  the  Indian  trade  before  his  ad- 
vent, and  the  mayor  and  common  council  of  the  city  took  up  the 
matter  and  sent  a “ humble  address’’  to  the  King  in  which  they  ac- 
knowledge, “late  favours  in  recommending  to  Yor  Majestys  Captain 
General  of  this  Province  the  preservation  of  all  the  ancient  rights  & 
Priviledges  of  this  Yor  Matys  Citty  in  the  Management  of  Trade 
which  of  late  years  hath  much  decreased  thro’  the  impetuous  en- 
croachments of  Our  Neighbours  the  Inhabitants  of  East  and  West 
Jersey,  Pensil vania  & Conecticut.”  After  complimenting  the  en- 
deavors of  the  Governor,  they  say : “A  particular  Accompt  whereof 
your  Maty  will  find  fully  expressed  in  an  address  unto  Yor  Maty  from 
Your  Matys  Captain  General  & Council  of  this  Your  Maty’s  Province, 
And  alsoe  fully  delineated  in  a Mapp  which  his  Excie  hath  with  much 
labor  & charge  accomplished  to  give  Your  Maty  a true  information 
of  the  state  of  this  province  to  which  wee  humbly  referr  Your 
Maty  and  doubt  not  but  that  it  will  bring  Your  Maty  into  the  con- 
sideration of  the  absolute  necessity  there  is  that  those  adjacent  parts 
of  Connecticut  East  and  West  Jersey,  Pensilvania,  or  at  least  soe  far 
of  Pensilvania  as  extends  from  the  Falls  of  Susquehannah,  should  be 
united  to  this  Yor  Maly’s  Province.”  j: 

April  7,  1688,  Governor  Dongan  was  superseded  by  Sir  Edmund 
Andros,  who  was  commissioned  Captain -General  and  Governor-in- 
Chief  over  the  British  Dominions  between  the  St.  Croix  river  and 
latitude  JO,  “our  province  of  Pensilvania  and  country  of  Delaware 
only  excepted.”  § This  was  apparently  the  only  answer  to  Dongan' s 
scheme  to  annex  the  Susquehanna  river  and  northern  Pennsylvania. 

Less  than  a year  afterward  King  James  ran  away  to  France,  and 
William  and  Mary  reigned  in  his  stead.  The  agitation  against  Penn 
was  again  renewed,  and  upon  6 August,  1691,  the  Governor  (now 
Richard  Ingoldsby)  and  Council  presented  a long  address  to  the  new 
sovereigns,  in  which  they  say  among  other  things:  “These  incon- 
veniences of  Connecticut^,  East  and  West  Jersey  are  not  only  preju- 
dicial! to  Yof  Majtys  intrest,  but  also  the  pretences  of  William  Penn* 
Esqr  to  the  3 lower  Countys  on  Delaware  River  and  to  the  Susque- 
hanna River  are  equally,  if  not  more,  injurious  to  Your  Majty  and 
particularly  in  this  respect.  Susquehanna  River  is  seituate  in  the 
midlo  of  the  Sinnekes  country,  which  they  gave  unto  Your  Maj- 

* N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  iii,  393-4-5-G-7.  IN.  Y.  Col.  Hist”  iii,  424-5. 

f N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  iii,  422.  § Idem,  iii,  543,  etc. 


No.  71.] 


45 


estys  crowne  and  hath  belonged  as  an  appendix  to  this  Your  Majtiea 
governm1  many  yeares  before  Mr.  Penn  had  his  pattent.  Notwith- 
standing thereof  Mr.  Penn  endevors  to  disturb  Your  Majesty  in  the 
peaceable  and  quiett  possession  of  the  premises ; endeavouring  to 
tempt  the  Indians  to  sell  it  again  to  him,  by  that  means  not  only  to 
dispossess  Your  Majesty  of  your  antient  rights  but  also  to  pervert 
and  draw  away  the  trade  of  the  Indians  to  his  Province ; which  will 
be  an  irreparable  loss  to  Your  Majesty,  all  the  Nations  with 
whome  Albany  hath  their  trade  liveing  at  4he  head  of  the  Susque- 
hanna River.  So  the  revenue  of  10  pr  Cent,  the  impost  upon  pow- 
der, lead,  alumn  and  furrs,  quite  lost,  and  if  Mr.  Penn  should  attain 
his  pretences  to  the  Susquehanna  River,  it  will  not  only  destroy  the 
best  branch  of  Your  Majties  revenue,  but  it  will  likewise  depopu- 
late Yrour  Province,  the  inhabitants  of  Albany  haveing  only  seated 
them  selves  there  and  addicted  their  minds  to  the  Indian  language 
and  the  misteries  of  the  said  trade,  writh  purpose  to  manage  it,  that 
if  it  should  be  diverted  from  that  ohannell,  they  must  follow  it, 
haveing  no  other  wTay  or  art  to  gett  a livelyhood.”*  A dire  calamity 
to  befall  the  future  Capital.  Further  on  they  say,  “ by  all  which 
Your  Majesty  may  perceive  that  the  pretences  of  Mr.  Penn  to  the 
Susquehanna  River  are  very  injurious  to  Your  Majties  right  and 
revenue ; so  that  some  care  must  be  taken  if  Y"our  Majty  sees  cause  he 
shall  remain  a distiuct  govern nfi  that  his  line  doth  encroach  upon  Your 
Majesties  right  noe  farther  upon  the  Susquehanna  River  than  the 
fall  thereof ; otherwise  its  scituatiou  being  so  near  the  Sinnekes  In- 
dians, if  planted  by  them,  must  of  necessity  divert  the  whole  trade 
of  Albany 

“ The  premises  considered  we  humbly  presume  and  represent  unto 
Your  Most  Sacred  Majesty  that  there  cann  be  no  thing  in  America 
more  conducive  to  Yor  Majties  dignity  and  advantage  and  for  the 
safety  of  Yor  Majties  subjects  upon  this  continent  then  that  Con- 
necticut, East  and  West  Jersey,  Pennsilvania  and  3 Lower  Countys 
be  re-annexed  to  this  Yor  MajUes  Province  which  then  will  be  a gov- 
ern m1  of  sufficient  extent.”  j* 

That  such  representations  as  these  seem  to  have  had  some  weight 
in  the  mind  of  William  III,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  2L  October, 
1692,  Benjamin  Fletcher,  who  had  already  been  commissioned  Gov 
ernor  of  New  York,  was  constituted  Governor-in-chief  of  “ Pensil- 
vania  and  Countrey  of  New  Castle  and  all  the  Territories  and 
Tracts  of  Land  depending  in  America. This  appointment  was 
upon  the  petition  of  Penn  revoked  20  August,  1694." 

South  Boundary  of  the  Province  of  New  York. 

Not  until  1738,  do  we  find  the  parallel  described  in  Penn’s  Char- 
ter as  the  northern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  mentioned  as  the 


*N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  iii,  798. 
fN.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  iii,  799. 


\ N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  iii,  861. 


46 


[Senate 


southern  boundary  of  New  York.*  Cadwallader  Colden,  Surveyor- 
General,  in  a report  to  Lieutenant-Governor  George  Clarke,  in 
answer  to  queries  of  the  Lords  of  Trade,  gives  the  boundaries  of  the 
Province  as  follows : 

“ From  the  41st  degree  of  Latitude  on  Hudson’s  River,  it  runs 
northwesterly  to  41  degrees  & 40  min  of  Latitude  on  the  most 
northerly  Branch  of  Delaware  River,  which  falls  near  Cashiektunk, 
an  Indian  Settlement  on  a Branch  of  that  River  call’d  the  Fish  kill. 

“ Thence  it  runs  up  that  Branch  of  Delaware  River  till  the  42d  de- 
gree of  Latitude  be  compleated  or  to  the  Beginning  of  the  43d  de- 
gree, Pensylvania  stretching  along  the  wrest  side  of  Delaware  River, 
so  far  northward  as  to  this  parallel  of  Latitude.  From  the  Begin- 
ning of  the  43d  degree  New  York  runs  westerly,  on  a Parallel  of 
Latitude,  along  the  Bounds  of  Pensylvania  to  Lake  Erie,  or  so  far 
west  as  to  comprehend  the  Country  of  the  Five  Rations 

“ The  Boundaries  between  New  York  Province  & the  Provinces 
of  New  Jersey  & Pensylvania  are  so  well  Described,  in  the  Grants 
to  the  Proprietors  of  New  Jersey  & Pensylvania,  that  by  deter- 
mining the  proper  Parallels  of  Latitude  on  Hudson  & Delaware 
Rivers,  the  Boundaries  between  them  may  at  any  time  be  fixed  with 
sufficient  certainty.  But  as  this  has  not  hitherto  been  actually  done, 
Disputes  now  in  several  parts  subsist,  between  the  Proprietors  of 
the  lands  near  the  line,  which  is  supposed  to  run  between  New  York 
& New  Jersey,  from  Hudson’s  River  to  Delaware  River.  And  it  is 
probable  the  like  Disputes  will  happen,  between  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  Provinces  of  New  York  & Pensylvania,  when  the  lands  near  the 
line  Dividing  them  shall  be  settled.”  f 

Governor  George  Clinton,  in  a report  to  the  Board  of  Trade,  23 
of  May,  1749,  describes  the  boundary  of  the  Province  of  New 
York  thus : 

“ 2nd.  The  province  of  New  York  is  bounded  by  Hudson’s  River 
on  the  West  from  the  mouth  of  the  said  River  to  the  latitude  of  41 
Degrees  on  that  River,  and  then  b}T  a line  running  from  thence  to 
the  latitude  of  40  Degrees  & 40  Minutes  on  Delaware  River,  Hud- 
son’s River  and  the  aforesaid  line  being  the  boundaries  between  this 
Province  & New  Jersey  from  41  Degrees  40  Minutes  of  latitude  on 
Delaware  to  the  beginning  of  the  43  Degrees,  or  to  42  Degrees  corn- 
pleat.  On  the  same  River  is  the  boundary  between  it  & Pensyl- 
vania & from  42  Degrees  compleat  a parallel  of  Latitude  divides  it 
from  Pensylvania  as  far  as  Pensylvania  extends,  or  to  the  claims 
of  the  French  of  Louisiana.  To  the  westward  from  hence  & to 
the  Northward  no  Boundaries  setled  between  us  and  the  French,  & 
most  probably  will  be  determined  by  occupancy  or  Force.  To  the 

* The  Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations  in  an  elaborate  Representation  to  ilie 
King  (George  I)  in  1721,  in  which  among  other  things,  the  boundaries  of  each 
Colony  are  described  in  detail,  bound  New  York.  “Southwest  by  the  province 
of  New  Jersey,  Northwest  by  Delaware  river.”  (N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  v,  600.) 

f N.  Y.  Doc.  Hist.  (4°)  iv,  114—5  (From  Colden’s  MS.).  The  document  as  trans- 
mitted to  the  Lords  of  Trade  is  given  in  N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  vi,  121,  etc. 


No.  71.  J 


47 


Eastward  it  is  bounded  by  the  New  England  Governtn19  of  New 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts  Bay  and  Connecticut  to  the  sound  be- 
tween the  Main  and  Long  Island,  and  to  the  Southward  it  is 
bounded  by  the  Atlantick  Ocean  including  Long  Island.  The  Divid- 
ing line  from  Hudson’s  River  to  Delaware  is  Disputed  by  the  Pro- 
prietors of  the  Lands  on  each  side  of  it.  The  occasion  of  the  Dis- 
pute, so  far  as  I understand  it,  arises  only  from  private  Interest  in 
which  his  Majs  interest  is  little  concerned  any  farther  than  that  Jus- 
tice be  done : the  Boundary  between  this  Province  & Pensylvania 
is  not  ascertained  upon  the  land,  & this  ought  to  be  done  to  prevent 
disputes  & Encroachments  on  his  Majesty’s  Lands.”* 

Douglass,  a historian  of  North  America  of  about  the  same  period 
(1751-5),  in  describing  the  boundaries  of  the  Province  says : “Its 
W.  line  runs  up  Cataraqui  river,  and  lake  called  generally  lake 
Ontario,  and  terminates  on  lake  Erie  in  north  lat.  42  d. 
complete.  From  Oswego  upon  lake  Ontario  may  be  reck- 
oned the  width  of  the  government  of  New  York,  220  miles,  viz, 
due  W.t  from  the  lake  200  miles  to  Albany  on  Hudson’s  river,  and 
from  Albany  20  miles  due  W.ftoto  the  west  line  of  Massachusetts- 
Bay  province. 

“ The  southern  line  of  the  province  of  New-York  is  in  several 
directions  or  flexures.  1.  From  lake  Erie  along  the  north  or  head- 
line of  Pensylvania  in  lat.  42.  to  Delaware  river.  2.  Thence  20 
miles  down  said  river  to  the  north  divisional  point  of  New-York 
and  New-Jersies  on  said  river  in  lat.  41  d.  40  m.  3.  Thence  in  a 
streight  line  E.  42  d.  S.  to  41  d.  lat.  on  Hudson’s  river.”  $ 

He  had  previously  remarked§  “ Some  of  the  New  York  Politi- 
cians say,  that Their  Line  with  Penn- 

sylvania is  limited  by  Delaware  River,  and  the  Parallel  of  43  D. 
N.  Lat.”  The  New  York  politicians  of  those  ancient  days  must 
most  certainly  have  been  more  modest  and  self-sacrificing  than  their 
modern  prototypes,  to  so  readily  waive  their  title  to  so  broad  a belt 
of  the  present  territory  of  the  State  ! 


Early  Maps  Exhibiting  the  Boundary. 

These  moderate  New  York  politicians  may  have  studied  “ a Map  of 
the  British  and  French  Dominions  in  North  America,  with  the  Roads, 
Distances,  Limits, and  Extent  of  the  Settlements, by  DrJn°.  Mitchell,’’! 
printed  at  Amsterdam  [1755].  This  is  a large  map  of  eastern 
America,  compiled  with  considerable  detail,  and  apparently  carefully 
engraved.  Upon  the  copy  of  the  map  in  the  New  York  State 
Library,  the  various  Provinces  are  each  tinted  separately.  The  topo- 
graphical features  are  quite  correctly  laid  down  ; much  more  so  than 
upon  most  of  the  maps  of  that  early  day. 

* N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  vi,  508.  \ Hist,  of  N.  Amer.,  ii,  230. 

f [$&c]  Should  be  E.  § Idem,  i,  16. 

||  A sketch  of  Dr.  John  Mitchell  may  be  found  in  N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  viii,  437. 


48 


[Senate 


Upon  tli is  map  the  northern  line  of  Pennsylvania  is  a meridian 
line  from  the  head  of  the  Delaware  river  north  to  the  parallel  of 
forty-three  degrees,  which  it  follows  west  a distance  of  five  degrees 
of  longitude,  passing  through  the  south  end  of  Lake  Genentaha  (Onon- 
daga) and  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie.  These  boundaries  include  the 
whole  of  the  Susquehanna  river  within  the  Province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. This  is  undoubtedly  the  map  referred  to  by  Governor  Tryon 
in  his  report  upon  the  state  and  condition  of  the  Province,  dated 
11  June,  1774,  in  which  he  describes  the  boundaries  of  New 

York,  “ On  the  West  Thence  the  Line  established 

between  New  York  and  New  Jersey  to  Delaware  River.  Thence 
the  River  Delaware  to  the  North  East  Corner  of  Pensylvania  or 
the  Beginning  of  the  latitude  43,  which  in  Mitchel’s  Map  is  by  mis- 
take carried  thro’  the  whole  of  that  degree  — Thence  the  North 
Boundary  Line  of  Pensylvania  to  the  Northwest  Corner  of  that 
Province ; and  continuing  the  same  line  to  a point  in  Lake  Erie.”* 

A French  transcript  from  this  map  was  published  in  Paris  in  1777. 
Lewis  Evans’  map  of  1749,  which  is  also  comparatively  correctly 
drawn,  exhibits  the  northern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  as  following 
the  parallel  of  forty-two  degrees.  An  inspection  of  the  maps  of  this 
section  of  the  British  Provinces  published  at  various  dates  previous 
to  the  Revolution  develops  the  fact  that  most  of  the  map-makers  of 
the  period  were  inclined  to  Penn’s  liberal  construction  of  his 
charter,  placing  the  northern  boundary  where  it  would  include  the 
entire  Susquehanna  valley.  A list  of  many  maps  examined  is  given 
in  appendix  K.  Sketch  No.  1 is  a copy  of  part  of  one  of  these, 
printed  in  full  in  volume  viii  of  the  New  York  Colonial  History.  It 
is  annexed  to  the  report  and  representation  of  the  Board  of  Trade 
upon  the  state  of  Indian  affairs,  7 March,  1708,  exhibiting  the 
boundary  between  the  Colonists  and  the  Indians,  which  had  been 
agreed  upon  south  of  “ Owege,”  on  the  Susquehanna  river. 

Some  of  these  maps  are  fine  specimens  of  cartography,  being  very 
clearly  engraved  and  printed ; and  although  the  topography  is  very 
much  distorted  in  some  sections,  a person  can  obtain  from  them  a very 
good  idea  of  the  geography  of  the  country  in  those  early  days. 

Ambiguity  in  William  Penn’s  Charter. 

In  this  connection  I will  refer  to  the  apparent  ambiguity  in  the 
description  of  the  boundaries  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  in 
the  original  charter.  The  eastern  boundary  is  fixed  in  the  Delaware 
river  as  far  northward  as  the  “ three  and  fortieth  degree  of  North- 
erne  Latitude,”  or  if  the  river  should  not  extend  far  enough  north 
* the  eastern  bounds  were  to  be  determined  by  a meridian  drawn  from 
the  head  of  the  river  to  the  “ said  three  and  fortieth  degree.”  But  in 
describing  the  limit  of  the  Province  on  the  north,  “the  said  lands  to 
bee  bounded  on  the  north,  by  the  beginning  of  the  three  and  fortieth 
degree.”  The  apparent  ambiguity  arises  from  a possible  misappre- 


* N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  viii,  438. 


S>V^\Oc\  \ 


Qf'Tae.  Cretan. . 


■t>eaJ.4sI$*-'^f 


No.  71.] 


40 


hension  of  the  intent  of  the  scribe  in  the  use  of  the  expression 
“ three  and  fortieth  degree.”  The  “ three  and  fortieth  degree”  un- 
doubtedly includes  the  space  between  the  forty -second  and  forty- 
third  parallels,  and  the  phrases  “ to  the  three  and  fortieth  degree  ” 
and  “ to  the  beginning  of ' the  three  and  fortieth  degree” — were 
probably  intended  to  be  synonymous,  and  to  mean  “ to  the  forty- 
second  parallel.”*  That  Lieutenant-Governor  Hamilton  of  Pennsyl- 
vania did  not  thus  construe  the  meaning  of  the  scribe,  is  evident 
from  his  letter  quoted  farther  on.  He  apparently  considered  the 
u three  and  fortieth  degree  ” to  mean  the  “ forty-third  parallel.” 
Dr.  Mitchell,  the  author  of  the  map  described  above,  evidently  con- 
strued it  thus,  and  in  laying  down  the  northern  boundary,  ignored 
the  subsequent  phrase  which  bounded  the  Province  on  the  north  by 
the  “ beginning  of  the  three  and  fortieth  degree.”  The  fact  that 
the  head  of  the  Delaware  river  is  considerably  north  of  the  forty- 
second  parallel  may  have  helped  in  the  misconstruction  of  the  lan- 
guage of  the  grant.  Surveyor-General  Golden  in  his  report  quoted 
above,  did  not  intend  to  be  misconstrued  when  he  said  “ till  the  42d 
degree  of  Latitude  be  compleated  or  to  the  Beginning  of  the  43d  de- 
gree.” The  claim  of  lands  north  of  the  “ beginning  of  the  forty- 
third  degree”  was  undoubtedly  an  outgrowth  from  the  dispute  be- 
tween Penn  and  Lord  Baltimore  over  the  south  boundary  of  the 
Province,  which  is  described  in  the  charter  thus: — -“And  on  the 
South,  by  a Circle  drawne  at  twelve  miles  distance  from  New  Castle 
Northward  and  Westwards  vnto  the  beginningof  the  fortieth  degree 
of  Northerne  Latitude  and  then  by  a streight  Line  westwards  to  the 
Limitt  of  Longitude  above  menconed.”  Here  the  King’s  limited 
knowledge  of  the  geography  of  the  country  is  especially  displayed,  as 
a circle  drawn  twelve  miles  from  New  Castle  would  not  reach  within 
half  a degree  of  the  “ beginning  of  the  fortieth  degree.”  Beside 
this,  Lord  Baltimore’s  grant  included  the  entire  “fortieth  degree” 
which  would  include  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  This  dispute  over 
the  interference  of  the  grants  was  finally  settled  in  1732,  by  the  re- 
lease of  the  present  State  of  Delaware  to  Penn  by  Lord  Baltimore, 
and  fixing  the“  streight  line  westwards  ” not  upon  the  “ beginning  of 
the  fortieth  degree,”  but  upon  a parallel  fifteen  miles  south  of  the 
City  of  Philadelphia,  nearly  three-fourths  of  a degree  farther  north. 
These  lines  were  afterward  run  and  made  permanent  in  1767,  and 
were  thenceforth  known  as  “ Mason  and  Dixon’s  Line”  from  the 
names  of  the  surveyors.  By  this  compromise  the  Proprietaries, 
while  they  lost  a very  material  portion  of  the  grant  in  area,  gained 
what  was  more  desirable,  an  extended  water  frontage.f 

*Tlie  representation  of  the  Lords  of  Trade,  referred  to  in  a previous  note,  states 

the  boundaries  of  Pennsylvania  thus  “ the  river  Delaware  on  the 

east,  unto  43  Degrees  of  Northern  Latitude,  & from  thence  a Meredian  line  run 
westward,  which  is  to  extend  5 Degrees  in  longitude.”  (N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  v,  603.) 

f In  the  deed  of  the  final  purchase  from  the  Indians,  of  lands  within  the  charter 
limits,  in  1784,  the  north  line,  from  the  north-west  corner,  is  described  as  “ a due 
east  line,  separating  the  forty-second  and  forty-third  degrees  of  north  latitude.” 
(Smith’s  Laws,  ii,  123.) 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


7 


50  [Senate 

Pennsylvania  Claims  North  of  the  Parallel  of  Forty-two 

Degrees. 

As  early  as  1751,  it  seemed  desirable  to  settle  the  boundary  be- 
tween the  Provinces,  as  we  see  from  the  letter  of  Governor  Clinton 
to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  5 November,  1751 : 

“ As  it  is  expected,  that  the  Proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania  may 
make  application  for  an  order,  to  put  a stop  to  any  grants  of  lands 
in  this  Province  to  the  Northward  boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  1 
have  thought  it  proper  to  enclose  a copy  of  the  Lieut1  Goverr  of 
Pennsylvania’s  letter  to  me  on  that  subject,  together  with  the  opinion 
of  the  Council  of  this  Province  thereon. 

“ I shall  only  add,  that  there  is  a large  Tract  of  vacant  Land  in 
this  Province  to  the  Northward  of  Pennsylvania,  and  that  any  order 
to  stop  the  grant  thereof  (till  that  Northern  boundary  be  fixed) 
may  be  a prejudice  to  the  peopling  and  cultivating  of  this  Province, 
and  likewise  a prejudice  to  Iiis  $Tajty’3  Revenue,  by  his  Quit  rents, 
unless  care  be  taken  at  the  same  time  that  the  necessary  expence  be 
provided  for  ascertaining  of  that  line  without  delay.”* 

The  “ Lieut1  Goverr  of  Pennsylvania’s  letter”  referred  to,  is  dated 
13  September,  1751.  Governor  James  Hamilton  says  : 

“ What  I am  now  about  to  represent  to  your  Excellcy,  will  1 hope 
be  considered  as  my  indispensible  duty  to  the  Proprietaries  of  this 
Province,  whose  interests,  if  my  information  be  true,  may  be  very 
much  affected,  by  the  proceedings  of  Coll:  Johnson  and  some  other 
Gentlemen  in  your  Govern1,  who  I am  told  have  obtained  a warrant 
for  laying  out  a very  large  tract  of  Land,  more  than  one  hundred 
thousand  acres,  on  the  East  branch  of  Susquehannah  River,  to  ad- 
join the  line  of  this  Province.  Now,  as  the  Northern  boundary  of 
Pennsil  vania  is  not  yet  fixed,  those  Gentlemen  for  want  of  due 
information,  may  probably  by  virtue  of  this  Warrant,  survey  lands 
within  our  Province,  which  may  hereafter  occasion  disputes,  between 
us,  especially  if  settlements  should  be  made  upon  them.  With  a 
view  therefore  of  avoiding  every  thing  of  that  kind,  I should  be 
much  obliged  to  your  Excellcy,  to  signify  to  the  Gentlemen  concerned 
in  this  Grant,  that  I will  advise  the  Proprietaries  of  it,  by  the  next 
conveyance,  that  if  they  please  they  may  take  immediate  measures 
for  settling  their  Northern  boundary  with  the  Crown.  Such  a step 
which  it  is  the  Proprietaries  interest  to  take,  will  put  the  boundary 
out  of  dispute,  and  then  these  Gentlemen  or  any  others  concerned 
in  grants  of  land,  will  be  under  no  difficulty  where  to  locate  their 
Warrants,  but  till  that  be  done,  it  appears  to  me,  they  will  run  a 
great  risk  in  their  locations. 

“As  a testimony  of  my  regard  for  those  Gentn,  and  for  their 
future  information,  I beg  leave  to  acquaint  vour  Excellcy,  that  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,  by  the  Royal  Patent,  is  to  contain  all  the 
lands  within  five  degrees  of  West  Longitude,  from  the  River 
Delaware,  which  is  the  Eastern  boundary  thereof  ; and  three  degrees 


* New  York  Col.  Hist,  vi,  747. 


51 


No.  11.] 

of  Latitude,  beginning  at  a circle  drawn  at  twelve  miles  distance, 
Northward  and  Westward,  from  the  Town  of  Newcastle,  and  to  be 
bounded  by  that  circle,  till  it  intersects  a line  running  due  West 
from  the  Town  of  Newcastle,  and  by  that  line  continued  due  West  to 
the  limits  of  Longitude  above  mentioned,  which  part  of  the  said  cir- 
cle and  due  west  line,  is  to  be  the  south  boundary  of  the  said  prov- 
ince, so  that  it  is  of  little  import  in  what  degree  of  latitude  that 
part  of  the  said  circle  and  West  line  fall,  nor  what  is  supposed  to  be 
in  the  patent,  since  Newcastle  is  a certain  determined  point  or  sta- 
tion given  and  fixed  in  the  patent,  from  whence  and  not  from  any 
imaginary  point  or  line  in  the  heavens,  the  three  degrees  of  latitude 
are  to  be  measured.  If  these  Gentlemen  therefore  will  consider 
how  far  three  degrees  of  latitude  to  be  measured  from  Newcastle 
will  extend  (perhaps  not  short  of  the  latitude  of  Albany)  they  will 
be  the  better  able  to  judge  how  to  keep  their  survey  clear  of  this 
province. 

“ I have  not  gone  into  this  account  of  the  Bounds  of  Pennsylvania 
with  any  design  to  begin  a dispute,  but  merely  with  a view  to  ap- 
prise your  Excellcy,  and  the  Warrantees,  of  the  light  in  which  the 
boundaries  of  this  Province  are  considered  here.  And  that  in  my 
opinion  it  would  be  for  the  interest  of  the  parties,  that  our  proprie- 
taries should  first  be  made  acquainted  with  their  Grant,  before  they 
put  themselves  to  any  considerable  expence  about  it,  in  order  that 
they  may  take  measures  with  the  Crown,  to  ascertain  their  Northern 
boundary.  But  if  the  lands  should  be  actually  located,  and  there 
should  be  reason  to  think  any  part  of  the  survey  comes  within  the 
line  of  this  Province,  I hope  your  ExcellC7  for  prevention  of  any 
future  disputes,  will  permit  the  Agents  of  the  Proprietaries  of  Penn- 
sylvania residing  here,  to  lodge  a Caveat  in  your  Land  Office,  against 
the  acceptance  of  such  survey.”* 

This  letter  was  drawn  out  by  the  following  “ Extract  from  a Let- 
ter of  lames  Alexander,  Esqr,  to  Mr  Bichard  Peters,”  Penn’s 
Secretary  of  the  Land  Office. 

“A  Lycence  to  purchase  of  the  Indians  one  hundred  and  thirty 
thousand  Acres  on  the  east  Branch  of  Sasquehanah  Biver,  down  to 
the  Line  of  Pennsylvania,  is  granted  here  to  Colonel  William  lohn- 
son  and  Company,  and  I hear  its  to  be  surveyed  in  September  next. 
It  might  prevent  Disputes  hereafter  if  that  Line  could  be  settled  be- 
fore any  Grants  were  made  on  it,  at  least  before  any  Settlements 
upon  it.  I understand  that  the  Delaney  Family  are  the  Company 
of  Coll.  Iohnson,  which  Family  are  the  chief  Supporters  of  the 
Disturbances  concerning  the  Line  of  New  York  and  New  Iersey, 
which  will  now  cost  much  troubl  charge  and  expence  to  have  set- 
tled, whereas  before  any  Grants  or  Settlements  had  been  made  near 
it  in  New  York,  it  might  have  been  done  with  small  charge  — I 
submit  it  to  you  whether  it  may  not  be  proper  in  behalf  of  your 
Proprietaries  to  memorial  our  Governor  for  the  settling  that  line ; 


* New  York,  Col.  Hist,  vi,  748-9. 


52 


[Senate 


And  in  the  mean  time  that  all  Purchases  and  Grants  that  can  pofsibly 
inteMere  with  it  be  stayed.  I would  not  have  you  mention  my 
name  in  this  affair.”  * 

Governor  Hamilton,  the  day  after  he  wrote  the  letter  to  Governor 
Clinton,  addressed  a long  communication  to  Thomas  Penn,  one  of 
the  Proprietaries,  upon  various  subjects,  in  which  this  matter  is 
referred  to  in  the  final  paragraph,  as  follows: 

“Upon  Mr.  Alexanders  acquainting  Mr.  Peters  that  Coll.  John- 
fon  and  the  Delanceys  had  obtained  a licence  from  the  New  York 
Government  to  purchafe  from  the  Indians  a large  Tract  of  Land 
lying  on  the  East  Branch  of  Sasquehannah,  to  adjoin  the  North 
Bounds  of  this  Province,  which  was  intended  to  be  survey’d  this 
Fall,  and  expressing  his  apprehenfion  that  it  may  in  time  occasion 
disputes  between  the  two  provinces : I have  written  to  Mr.  Clinton 
to  apprife  him  of  the  Bounds  of  Pennsylva,  and  to  put  him  and  the 
Warrantees  upon  their  guard  not  to  make  encroachments  upon  thif 
Province  telling  him  that  in  my  opinion  it  would  be  better  those 
Gentlemen  should  defer  the  location  of  their  Warrants,  till  you  were 
acquainted  with  the  Grant,  and  had  an  Opportunity  given  you  of 
concerting  meafures  to  fettle  your  North  Bounds  with  the  Crown. 
What  Regard  Mr.  Clinton  will  pay  to  my  letter  I know  not.  But 
I have  defired  of  him  that  (in  cafe  thofe  Gentlemen  should  have 
located  their  Warrants)  your  Agents  here  may  have  the  liberty  to 
lodge  a Caveat  in  the  New  York  Land  Office  against  the  Accept- 
ance of  such  Survey,  as  by  a Copy  of  my  letter  now  fent  you  will 
see.  Mr.  Alexanderf  has  acted  a very  friendly  part  by  you  in  this 
affair  but  desires  not  to  have  his  Name  mentioned  upon  the 
Occafion.”j; 

And  about  the  same  time  (September,  1751),  Governor  Hamilton, 
in  response  to  the  circular  of  the  Lords  of  Trade,  thus  modestly 
claimed  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  as  u bounded  on  the  north  by 
the  Province  of  New  York  and  a part  of  Lake  Ontario  * * * 

on  the  west  by  a small  part  of  said  Lake  Ontario,  the  Straits  of 
Niagara,  Lake  Erie,  and  the  Country  now  possessed  by  the  Six 
Nation  Indians.” 

Governor  Hamilton’s  letter  being  submitted  to  the  New  York 
Council  at  its  session  upon  30th  September,  1751,  by  Governor 
Clinton,  it  was  “ referred  to  a Committee  of  the  Council  or  any 
three  of  them  and  that  they  make  Report  thereon  as  soon  as  con- 
veniently may  be.”  § The  committee  reported  as  follows  : 

“ May  it  please  Your  Excellency : 

“ In  Obedience  to  your  Excellency’s  Order  in  Council  the  30th 
September  last,  referring  to  a Committee,  A Letter  then  communi- 

pPnn~ MSS.,  v,  1 77. 

j-  James  Alexander  had  been  Surveyor-General  of  East  Jersey,  and  afterward  of 
the  Provinces  of  New  Jersey  and  New  York  and  Attorney-General  of  New  York. 
He  was  early  identified  with  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  between  these 
Provinces.  He  was  the  father  of  General  Lord  Sterling  of  the  army  of  the  Revo, 
lution. 

\ Penn.  MSS.,  v,  173. 


g N.  Y.  Council  Min.,  xxi,  461. 


No.  71.] 


53 


cated  to  the  Council  By  your  Excellency  from  Governour  Hamilton 
of  the  13th  Ultimo,  respecting  the  Boundaries  of  the  Province  of 
Pensylvania,  the  Committee  have  duly  weighed  and  considered  the 
same.  And  upon  Examining  the  Record  of  the  Letters  patent 
granted  by  King  Charles  the  Second,  in  the  thirty-third  year  of  his 
Reign  to  William  Penn  Esq^  for  the  Province  of  Pensylvania, 
do  find  the  Lands  therein  granted,  to  be  bounded  on  the  North  by 
the  beginning  of  the  three  and  fortieth  Degree  of  Northern  Lati- 
tude. And  therefore  the  Committee  are  humbly  of  Opinion  Your 
Excellency  may  grant  any  Lands  to  the  Northward  of  that  Boundary  : 
Otherwise  it  may  be  a hindrance  to  the  Settlement  of  this  Province, 
and  Prejudicial  to  His  Majesty’s  Revenue,  arising  from  the  Quit 
Rents. 

“ By  Order  of  the  Committee, 

“ October  9th,  1751.  Edward  Llolland,  Chairman”* 

A copy  of  this  report  was  immediately  transmitted  by  Governor 
Clinton  to  Governor  Hamilton  in  the  following  words : “ J have 
communicated  your  Favour,  of  13th.  of  last  Month,  to  the  Gentle- 
men of  His  Majesty’s  Council,  as  you  will  perceive  by  the  enclofed 
Copy  of  a Minute  of  that  Board,  by  which  you  will  obferve  that  it 
is  their  Opinions  that  the  Northern  Boundary  of  your  Colony  is 
fixed  by  the  beginning  of  the  43d  Degree  of  Latitude,  and  no  ways 
depending  on  your  Southern  Boundary,  or  on  any  Agreement  en- 
ter’d into  between  the  Proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania  and  Lord  Bal- 
timore. 

u Jt  is  thought,  that  the  Facts  must  have  been  misrepresented, 
that  could  induce  your  Honour  to  fix  the  Beginning  ofthe  43d  De- 
gree near  Albany  : and  J assure  you  Sr,  that  J shall  take  all  particu- 
lar care  that  no  Lands  maybe  located  to  the  Southward  of  the  North- 
ern Boundaries  of  Pensylvania.”  j* 

Richard  Peters  addressed  the  following  note  to  Thomas  Penn  upon 
the  subject,  over  the  date  of  12  June,  1752. 

“ Mr.  Alexander’s  Letter  wch  I have  copied  will  shew  you  what 
sad  distracted  work  the  People  of  New  York  are  likely  to  make  in 
the  construction  of  their  Boundaries,  and  that  Admiral  Warren  and 
the  Delaney  Family  are  concerned  in  the  Warrants  tlio  not  named 
and  that  on  account  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  Crowns  Construction 
of  the  Bounds  of  New  York  it  is  thought  proper  to  drop  the  Sur- 
vey here  and  to  apply  imediately  to  the  Crown  for  the  Grant  wch 
however  may  be  askd  for  Lands  comprized  within  certain  metes  so 
that  J shoud  think  ye  Caveat  shoud  be  enterd  by  your  agent  in  the 
proper  office  at  Westminster. 

“ The  Captn  is  come  to  a determination  of  going  in  his  Yefsel 
wch  obliges  me  to  close  & to  refer  you  to  my  next  by  Messard  or 
Shirley  who  sail  next  week.”  ^ 

That  the  authorities  of  New  York  continued  to  be  apprehensive 
that  the  Proprietaries  still  entertained  the  idea  of  claiming  beyond 

- Penn.  MSS.,  v,  181.  fldem,  v,  185.  tldem,  v,  239. 


54 


[Senate 


the  “ beginning  of  the  forty-third  degree,”  is  apparent  from  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  from  the  minutes  of  the  New  York  Council,  11 
March  1755. 


“ His  Honour  communicated  a Letter  from  Governor  Morris  of 
the  6th  Instant  (Pensilvania)  desiring  the  countenance  of  this  Gov- 
ernment in  respect  to  a meeting  of  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians  at 
Col1  Johnson’s  House  this  Spring,  where  Mr  Morris  proposes  to 
treat  with  them  by  Commissioners,  and  to  purchase  of  them  in  be- 
half of  the  Proprietors  of  that  Province,  All  the  Lands  within  the 
same,  as  bounded  in  the  royal  Charter.  And  desiring  that  John 
Lydius  who  has  lately  made  a Purchase  of  Lands  within  that  Gov- 
ernment, in  behalf  of  some  People  of  Connecticut,*  may  be  prose- 
cuted for  the  same.  The  Charges  whereof  he  will  defra}^. 

“ As  to  the  first  Point,  the  Council  were  of  Opinion  his  Honour 
might  signify  to  Governor  Morris  his  Consent  to  the  propos’d  Meet- 
ing, Provided  that  at  such  Meeting  no  Lands  be  purchased  in  behalf 
of  Mr.  Penn,  to  the  Northward  of  the  Beginning  of  the  43d  Degree 
of  Northern  Latitude,  which  is  esteemed  to  be  the  Southern 
Boundary  of  this  Province  in  that  Part,  and  the  Northern  Boundary 
of  Pen  syl vania. 

“ As  to  the  second  Point.  The  Council  wmre  of  Opinion,  as  the 
Charge  against  the  said  John  Lydius  is  general,  this  Board  cannot 
order  a Prosecution  against  him  by  the  Attorney  General,  but  that 
the  Government  of  Pensylvania,  might  be  at  Liberty  to  commence 
and  carry  on  a Prosecution  against  him  in  the  King’s  Name.”f 

And  also  the  minutes  of  27  March,  1755  : 

“ The  Governor  communicated  a Letter  of  the  25th  Instant  from 
Governor  Morris,  touching  the  Purchase  he  proposes  to  make  of  the 
Indians  in  Behalf  of  Mr.  Penn,  of  the  Lands  included  within  the 
Grant  of  the  Crown ; In  which  Mr  Morris  says  ‘that  in  Case  they 
can  agree  with  the  Indians,  he  proposes  to  take  the  Grant  in  the 
express  Words  of  Mr.  Penn’s  Charter,  and  against  this  he  conceives 
this  Government  can  have  no  Objection,  since  this  Province,  will  be 
after  any  such  Indian  Purchase,  in  the  very  same  Circumstances  it 
is  now,  as  to  the  Interpretation  of  the  Extent  of  the  King’s  Grant, 
for  tho’  they  differ  widely  in  this  Point,  yet  the  Claim  of  this 
Province  will  not  be  at  all  affected,  if  the  Indian  Boundaries  be  the 
very  same  with  those  described  in  the  Koyal  Charter.’ 

“ The  Council  adhere  to  their  former  Opinion  on  this  Matter, 
entered  in  the  Minutes  on  the  12th  Instant,  and  advise  his  Honr.  to 
send  a Copy  thereof  to  Col0.  William  Johnson,  and  to  signify  to 
him,  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Board,  that  he  do  his  utmost  to  pre- 
vent any  Purchase  being  made  of  the  Indians,  otherways  than  may 
be  expressly  conformable  to  their  said  Former  Opinion. 

* Susquehanna  Company’s  Purchase.  See  II,  Appendix  L.  Lydius  does  not  ap- 
pear in  the  subsequent  controversy  between  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut,  ex- 
cept as  a witness  before  the  Council  at  Trenton,  to  identify  the  Indian  deed  of 
1754,  which  he  had  an  agency  in  procuring. 

f N.  Y.  Council  Min.,  xxv,  4.  t N.  Y.  Council  Min.,  xxv,  11 


No.  71.] 


55 


Governor  Hoyt  in  his  “ Syllabus  of  the  Controversy  between 
Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania”  says  (page  40): 

“Perhaps  it  was  not  altogether  ‘ignorance’  of  bounds  that  moved 
our  worthy  predecessors.  In  the  course  suggested  to  i get  rid  ’ of 
the  deed  of  1754  to  the  Susquehanna  Company,  under  date  of  July 
2,  1755,  Thomas  Penn  writes  to  Governor  Morris,  6 When  a pur- 
chase ’ (from  the  Indians)  ‘ is  made,  I would  not  have  it  in  words 
too  particular,  but  to  extend  to  the  Northern  Boundary  of  Penn- 
sylvania without  any  mention  of  a degree’  ‘I  had 

rather  avoid  making  the  Government  of  New  York  privy  to  it,  as 
they  expect  we  shall  coniine  our  purchase  to  the  forty-second  degree, 
whereas  we  shall  certainly  expect  three  degrees.’  ” 

Indian  Treaty  of  1768. 

In  June,  1754,  delegates  from  several  of  the  Colonies  assembled 
at  Albany  to  consider  a plan  of  union,  and  to  make  a treaty  with 
the  Six  Nations.  By  this  treaty  the  Indians  ceded  to  the  Proprietaries 
of  Pennsylvania  all  the  land  west  of  the  Susquehanna  river  south 
of  a line  extending  from  a point  opposite  the  site  of  Sunbury, 
north-west  to  the  western  boundary  of  the  Province.  This  line, 
drawn  upon  the  map,  intersects  the  present  north  line  of  Pennsyl- 
vania near  the  north-west  corner  of  McKean  county,  and  would 
strike  the  western  boundary  of  the  Province,  as  it  was  claimed  to 
the  “ forty-third  degree,”  north  of  Lake  Erie. 

After  the  treaty,  when  the  Indians  had  discovered  the  true  pur- 
port of  the  deed  by  which  their  chiefs  had  conveyed  away  a large 
territory  which  they  still  wished  to  hold,  they  became  very  much 
dissatisfied,  and  Their  discontent  was  taken  advantage  of  by  the 
French,  and  this  was  one  of  the  causes  of  the  desertion  of  some  of 
the  tribes  to  the  French,  one  of  the  consequences  of  which  was  the 
fatal  defeat  of  Braddock. 

In  October,  1758,  a new  treaty  was  made  at  Easton  by  which  the 
Proprietaries  relinquished  all  claims  to  the  lands  covered  by  the 
deed  of  1754,  lying  north-west  of  the  “Alleghany  or  Appalachian 
hills.”  * The  territory  thus  surrendered  included  the  site  of  Fort 
DuQuesne  and  other  desirable  spots  upon  which  the  whites  looked 
with  longing  eyes.  Fort  DuQuesne  was  soon  after  captured  by  the 
British,  and  the  influence  of  the  French  with  the  Indian  tribes  south 
of  the  lakes  began  rapidly  to  wane.  Notwithstanding  the  surrender 
of  the  lands  west  of  the  Alleghanies  by  the  Proprietaries,  white  set- 
tlers continued  to  encroach  upon  the  hunting  grounds  of  the  Indians, 
particularly  after  the  peace  of  1763.  Proclamations  were  fulmi- 
nated against  them,  and  early  in  February,  1768,  an  act  was  passed 
by  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  prescribing  the  penalty  of  death 
to  such  squatters  as  failed  to  remove  from  the  coveted  territory 
within  a certain  time. 

But  proclamations  and  edicts  were  of  no  avail,  and  the  disputes 

* Smith’s  Laws  (of  Penn.)  ii,  121-2. 


56 


[Senate 


between  the  whites  and  Indians  as  to  the  proper  boundary  or  limit 
between  them  had  become  so  frequent  that  a general  treaty  was 
made  in  1768,  in  which  a new  boundary  was  fixed,  reaching  from 
the  Mississippi  to  Lake  Ontario. 

By  the  minutes  of  the  New  York  Council,  9th  of  September,  it 
was  apparently  expected  that  the  claims  of  the  Proprietaries  to  lands 
within  the  “forty-third  degree”  would  be  asserted  anew. 

“ His  Excellency  was  pleased  to  observe  to  the  Board  that  Mr. 
Penn  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  Province  of  Pensilvania 
was  expected  in  this  City,  in  his  Way  to  the  Congress  soon  to 
be  held  with  the  Indians  for  the  Settlement  of  a Boundary  Line 
between  them  and  His  Majesty’s  Colonies ; and  that  Mr.  Penn  he 
was  informed,  intends  at  this  General  Meeting  of  the  Indians,  to 
purchase  of  them,  in  Behalf  and  at  the  Expence  of  the  Proprieta- 
ries of  that  Province  such  part  of  the  Lands  to  be  ceded  by  the  In- 
dians, as  may  fall  within  the  Province  of  Pensilvania  which  Mr 
Penn  supposes  doth  extend  Northward  so  far  as  to  include  the  forty 
third  Degree  of  Northern  Latitude,  whereas  the  Northern  Limits  of 
that  Province  are  by  the  Charter  expressly  confined  to  the  Begin- 
ning of  the  forty  third  Degree,  and  if  extended  to  the  End  of  the 
said  Degree  of  Northern  Latitude,  would  not  only  greatly  contract 
the  Limits  of  this  Province,  but  by  breaking  in  upon  many  Ancient 
and  valuable  Settlements  under  this  Government,  be  productive  of 
great  Dissatisfaction  and  Uneasiness  among  the  Possessors  of  the 
Soil. 

“ The  Record  of  the  Charter  or  Letters  Patent  from  King  Charles 
the  Second  in  the  thirty  third  Year  of  his  Reign  to  William  Penn 
Esqr.  for  the  Province  of  Pensilvania,  was  then  Read  

“ His  Excellency  having  required  the  Advice  of  the  Board  there- 
upon : and  the  Council  being  of  Opinion  that  such  Purchase  if 
effected,  may  greatly  prejudice  the  Rights  of  the  Crown  ; therefore 
unanimously  advise  his  Excellency  to  apprize  Sir  William  Johnson 
of  the  Information  he  has  received,  and  strongly  to  recommend  it  k) 
him,  as  his  Majestys  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  to  interpose 
and  prevent,  if  attempted,  the  Purchaseing  of  any  Lands  in  behalf  of 
the  Proprietaries  of  the  province  of  Pensilvania,  to  the  Northward 
of  the  Beginning  of  the  three  and  fortieth  Degree  of  Northern 
Latitude,  the  utmost  Extent  of  that  Province:  until  his  Majestys 
pleasure  shall  be  known.”  * 

The  “ Treaty  ” or  convention  was  held  at  Fort  Stanwix  in  Octo- 
ber and  November  in  that  year.  Governor  John  Penn  (grandson  of 
William)  was  present  during  the  preliminary  negotiations,  but  before 
the  formal  opening  of  the  “ Treaty  ” he  was  obliged  by  the  “ affairs 
of  his  Province  to  set  off  for  Philadelphia,  leaving  behind  him  as 
Commissioners  Messrs.  Peters  and  Tilghman.”  The  King  and  Colo- 
nists were  represented  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  Superintendent  of 


*N.  Y.  Council  Min.,  xxvi,  128. 


No.  71.] 


57 


Indian  Affairs,  Governor  William  Franklin,  and  Chief  Justice 
Frederick  Smith  of  New  Jersey,  Commissioner  Thomas  Walker  of 
Virginia,  and  Richard  Peters  and  James  Tilghman  from  Pennsyl- 
vania. Eight  Indian  tribes  (including  the  Six  Nations)  were  present 
in  large  numbers.  Many  belts  of  wampum  were  passed,  and  doubt- 
less much  tobacco  was  smoked,  in  the  prolonged  negotiations  between 
the  representatives  of  the  two  races.  The  boundary  line  had  -already 
been  practically  agreed  upon  by  the  treaty  of  1765,  through  Penn- 
sylvania to  a point  called  “ Oswegy  ” (Owegy)  upon  the  Susquehanna 
river,  which  from  the  imperfect  geographical  knowledge  of  the 
period  was  supposed  to  be  at  the  northern  limit  of  Penn’s  Province. 
Beyond  this  point  through  New  York  the  direction  in  which  the 
line  should  be  run  seems  to  have  occasioned  the  greatest  discussion. 
The  question  was  finally  satisfactorily  settled  and  a deed  was  made 
and  signed  the  fifth  day  of  November  by  a representative  from  each 
of  the  Six  Nations,  fixing  and  describing  the  line  and  granting  the 
land  east  of  it  to  King  George  the  Third.  Penn’s  claim  to  land* 
north  of  the  “ beginning  of  the  forty-third  degree  ” seems  not  to 
have  been  asserted  as  was  anticipated  by  the  New  York  Council. 

The  boundary  thus  agreed  upon  is  described  in  the  deed,  “ begin- 
ning at  the  Mouth  of  Cherokee  or  Ilogohege  River,  

to  a Creek  called  Awandae,  thence  down  the  same  to  the  East 
Branch  of  Susquehanna  and  across  the  same  and  up  the  east  side  of 
that  River  to  Oswegy, f from  thence  East  to  Delawar  River  and  up 
that  River  to  opposite  where  Tianaderha  falls  into  Susquehanna  thence 
to  Tianaderha  ” J 

This  line  is  known  in  the  history  of  New  York  as  the  “ Line  of 
Property;”  especially  that  portion  which  reached  from  the  Delaware 
to  the  Susquehanna,  forming  the  east  line  of  Broome  county. 

That  the  portion  of  this  boundary  agreed  upon  by  the  Indians,  ex- 
tending from  “ Oswegy  ” east  was  intended  to  be  in  the  north 
boundary  of  Pennsylvania  appears  from  the  letter  of  Governor 
Henry  Moore  of  New  York  to  the  Earl  of  Hillsborough,  27 
June,  1769,  in  which  he  states,  “ The  inclosed  sketch  was  sent  to 

* Tennessee  River. 

f “Owegy”  on  the  rude  map  made  by  Guy  Johnson  which  is  enclosed  in  Sir 
William  Johnson’s  letter  written  to  the  Earl  of  Hillsborough,  the  Colonial  Secre- 
tary, a few  days  after  the  date  of  the  Indian  deed.  It  is  spelled  “Owege  ” upon 
the  map  attached  to  the  Report  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  referred  to  at  page  ill 
(Sketch  No.  1).  This  name  seems  to  have  been  spelled  indiscriminately  “ Os- 
wegy ” and  “ Owegy  ” in  the  various  documents,  and  by  the  distorted  representa- 
tion of  the  geography  of  the  country  upon  some  of  the  maps  of  the  period,  it 
would  seem  to  have  been  erroneously  placed  at  the  locality  afterward  known  as 
Tioga  Point.  A line  drawn  east  from  Owego  would  strike  the  Delaware  a long 
distance  above  the  point  at  which  the  line  north  to  the  Susquehanna  leaves  it, 
and  would  have  left  the  Indian  villages  of  Chenango,  Chughnut  and  Ouaquaga 
in  possession  of  the  whites,  thus  defeating  the  object  of  the  detour  to  the  Delaware. 
Upon  Guy  Johnson’s  map  annexed  to  the  Rev.  Charles  Inglis’  “ Memorial  concern- 
ing the  Iroquois”  in  1771  (N.Y.  Doc.  Hist.  (4°)  iv,  661)  “ Owegy”  is  more  correctly 
located  and  the  Indian  Boundary  is  shown  by  a diagonal  line  drawn  south-easterly 
from  that  point  to  the  present  Initial  Point. 

X N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  viii,  136.  Tianaderha  is  now  known  as  the  Unadilla  River. 
Awandae  is  now  Tonawanda. 

fSpn  Doc.  No.  71.] 


8 


58 


[Senate 


me  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  in  order  to  be  laid  before  the  house  of 
Assembly  and  only  shews  so  much  of  the  line  as  relates  to  this 
Province.  Pennsylvania  is  now  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  East 
and  West  line  drawn  from  Owegy  to  the  Delaware.”  * Owegy 
located  upon  this  map  just  below  the  intersection  of  the  parallel  of 
42  degrees  with  the  Susquehanna  river,  and  the  line  drawn 
East  fr.oin  the  point  passes  entirely  south  of  all  the  Indian  villages 
on  Susquehanna,  intersecting  the  Delaware  near  the  present  “ Initial 
Point.” 

In  the  Indian  Deed  to  the  Penns,  signed  at  Fort  Stanwix  the 
same  day  that  the  deed  defining  the  general  boundary  line  between 
the  Indians  and  the  Colonists  was  signed,  the  grant  to  Thomas  and 
Richard  Penn  covered  “all  that  part  of  the  province  of  Pennsyl  vania 
not  heretofore  purchased  of  the  Indians,  within  the  said  general 
boundary  line  and  beginning  with  said  boundary  line,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  East  branch  of  the  river  Susquehannah,  at  a place 
called  Owegy  and  running  with  the  said  boundary  line  down  the 

said  branch  then  up  the  said  river  Delaware  on  the 

west  side  thereof  to  the  intersection  of  it,  by  an  east  line  to  be 
drawn  from  Owegy  aforesaid  to  the  said  river  Delaware,  then  with 
that  east  line  to  the  beginning  at  Owegy  aforesaid.”  Sir  William 
Johnson  and  the  New  York  commissioners  present  would  not  have 
consented  to  this  grant,  had  they  an  idea  that  “ Owegy”  was  north 
of  the  “ beginning  of  the  forty-third  degree.” 

In  1774,  the  line  of  cession  was  run  east  from  the  mouth  of  Owego 
creek  to  a point  about  four  miles  east  of  Binghamton,  by  Robert 
Lettis  Hooper,  and  a number  of  British  military  land  warrants  were 
laid  out  along  the  south  side  of  it,  in  the  present  county  of  Broome, 
forming  what  afterward,  became  Bingham’s  Patent.  Coxe’s  Manor 
in  Tioga  county  was  laid  out  south  of  it  at  the  same  time.  This 
location  of  the  line  of  17(18,  so  much  farther  north  than  was  intended 
at  the  time  of  the  treaty,  created  great  dissatisfaction  among  the  Six 
Nations,  and  came  very  near  influencing  them  to  cast  their  lot  with 
the  Colonists  against  the  British  in  the  Revolution.  Such  a result 
from  the  inaccurate  knowledge  of  the  early  geography  of  the  coun- 
try displayed  by  the  English  officials  in  their  dealings  with  the  In- 
dians would  undoubtedly  have  materially  shortened  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  have  entirely  changed  the  history  of  the  United 
States.  This  survey  was  the  subject  of  discussion  at  two  congresses 
with  the  Indians  in  1774,  and  it  required  considerable  diplomacy  on 
the  part  of  Col.  Guy  Johnson,  who  had  succeeded  Sir  William  John- 
son at  his  death  as  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  to  induce  the 
Indians  to  remain  friendly  to  the  British. f Col.  Johnson,  1G  March, 
1775,  in  transmitting  the  proceedings  of  these  congresses  to  the 
Earl  of  Dartmouth,  refers  to  the  subject  thus : 

“ The  next  part  of  the  inclosures  contain  Transactions  with  the 
Chief  of  the  Lower  Senecas  (a  Man  of  great  fidelity)  and  with  a party 


* N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  viii,  149,150. 


f Idem,  viii,  550-1,  and  560-1. 


No.  71.] 


59 


of  Cayugas,  and  the  last  is  the  substance  of  my  proceedings  with 
those  Six  Nation  Indians  who  inhabit  about  the  Susquehanna,  and 
who  are  much  alarmed  at  finding  that  the  boundary  line  lately  run 
from  Owegy  on  the  before  mentioned  river  to  Delaware  includes 
four  of  their  Villages  contrary  to  the  intention  of  the  Fort  Stanwix 
Treaty  in  1768. — This  error  was  occasioned  thro’  the  want  of  a 
proper  survey  of  the  course  of  the  Susquehanna,  at  that  time,  all  the 
Maps  then  to  be  found  having  given  it  a much  more  Northerly  direc- 
tion than  it  appears  to  have  (above  Owegy)  according  to  the  late 
survey  which  leaves  their  Villages  within  the  limits  of  the  Colonies 
& thereby  causes  much  discontent,  not  only  amongst  those  imme- 
diately affected,  but  the  rest,  who  have  applied  to  me  for  redress,  as 
previous  to  their  executing  the  Deed  of  Cession  they  in  a public 
speech  stipulated  : ‘ That  the  Lands  of  the  Mohawks,  as  also  the 

residences  of  any  others  of  the  Confederacy,  affected  by  the  Cession 
should  be  considered  as  their  sole  property.’  And,  therefore,  it  may 
appear  necessary  to  give  them  some  security  for  the  lands  they  oc- 
cupy about  the  Villages  so  circumstanced,  otherwise  at  a time  where 
so  much  jealousy  subsists  on  account  of  lands  and  encroachments, 
this  would  be  aggravated  into  a high  grievance  by  the  Confederacy 
(who  are  bound  to  provide  their  people  with  lands)  and  probably  in- 
cline them  to  engage  in  some  of  these  evil  Councils  or  Associations, 
which  it  has  been  my  constant  endeavours  to  prevent.  I therefore 
hope  to  be  enabled  to  signify  to  them  His  Majesty’s  commands 
thereon,  and  if  I can  also  receive  orders  respecting  some  land  (and 
other)  matters  mentioned  in  former  letters,  previous  to  the  General 
Congress,  that  must  shortly  take  place,  it  will  prove  of  great  advan- 
tage to  the  service,  for  I find  that  reports  of  encroachments  ettc, 
have  spread  amongst  the  Nations  to  the  Westward,  and,  I likewise 
discover,  that  measures  are  now  in  agitation  to  draw  the  Six  Nations 
into  the  schemes  of  the  disaffected  by  persuading  them,  that  they  are 
in  danger  and  that  their  applications  will  be  disregarded ; so  that 
any  marks  of  attention  at  this  time  will  strengthen  their  confidence 
in  His  Majty  which  I continually  labour  to  promote,  than  which 
nothing  can  be  more  necessary,  when  not  only  amongst  themselves, 
but  also  a great  number  of  the  White  people  are  endeavouring  to 
alienate  their  affections  and  even  spirit  them  up  to  worst  purposes. 
This  I have  hitherto  been  fortunate  enough  to  prevent,  and  under 
the  sanction  of  Govern1  I trust,  I shall  neither  prove  wanting  in  zeal 
or  influence  to  render  their  schemes  abortive.”" 

The  military  land  warrants  located  by  Hooper  were  never  con- 
firmed by  the  British  government  of  the  Colony.  After  the  Devolu- 
tion, and  the  actual  line  of  Pennsylvania  had  been  run,  New  York 
found  it  necessary  to  extinguish  the  Indian  title  to  the  lands  south 
of  Hooper’s  line,  and  to  grant  new  warrants  for  the  re-survey  of 
most  of  the  lands  lie  had  laid  out  in  1774-5. 

Y.  Col.  Hist,,  viii,  548-9. 


60 


[Senate 


The  Proprietaries  ask  to  Have  Their  Boundaries  Fixed. 

The  questionof  a settlement  of  the  location  of  the  Boundary  seems 
to  have  rested  until  1774,  when  the  Proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania, 
having  had  their  south  boundary  settled  arbitrarily  upon  a line  con- 
siderably north  of  that  described  in  the  charter,  petitioned  the  King 
to  have  the  remaining  boundaries  fixed  and  marked.  Their  peti- 
tion is  as  follows : 

“ To  the  Kings  most  excellent  Majesty  in  Council : 

aThe  humble  petition  of  Thomas  Penn  and  John  Penn  Proprie- 
taries of  Your  Majesty’s  Province  of  Pennsylvania  in  America 
[August  26,  1774]. ' 

Sheweth. 

“ That  on  the  4th  day  of  March  1680  His  late  Majesty  King 
Charles  the  Second  was  graciously  pleased  By  Letters  Patent  under 
the  Great  Seal  to  Grant  unto  William  Penn  Esquire  (late  Father 
of  your  Petitioner  Thomas  Penn  and  Grandfather  of  your  Peti- 
tioner John  Penn")  in  Fee  the  said  Province  of  Pennsylvania 

“ That  the  Extent  and  Bounds  of  the  said  Province  were  ex- 
pressed in  the  said  Letters  Patent  in  the  following  Words  (that  is  to 
say)  

“That  the  said  William  Penn  and  his  Children  claiming  under 
him  have  as  they  humbly  hope  answered  the  Purposes  for  which 
the  said  Province  was  granted  * * * 

“ That  the  Boundary  Line  of  the  said  Province  of  Pennsylvania 
hath  now  been  finally  adjusted  and  settled  between  your  Petitioners 
and  the  late  Eight  Plonorable  Frederick  Lord  Baron  of  Baltimore 
in  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland  Proprietor  of  the  Province  of  Mary- 
land . 

“ That  at  the  Time  of  the  making  of  the  said  Grant  to  the  said 
William  Penn  the  Continent  of  America  was  not  so  well  under- 
stood as  the  same  hath  been  of  later  Years  for  your  Petitioners 
conceive  that  the  province  of  Maryland  (which  was  granted  prior 
to  that  of  Pennsylvania)  as  bounded  by  the  Line  drawn  by  the  said 
Commissioners  extends  now  considerably  farther  Northward  than  it 
was  apprehended  the  same  would  have  extended  at  the  Time 
of  the  Grant  to  the  said  William  Penn  and  it  is  now  certainly 
known  that  the  Circle  at  twelve  Miles  distant  from  New  Castle  can 
never  touch  the  beginning  of  the  fortieth  Degree  of  northern  Lati- 
tude as  the  said  Grant  of  the  said  Province  of  Pennsylvania  sup- 
posed ; Your  Petitioners  therefore  could  not  have  three  Degrees 
of  Latitude  according  to  the  Intention  of  their  Grant  without  en- 
croaching upon  the  Province  of  Maryland  and  the  Line  between 
your  Petitioners  and  Lord  Baltimore  which  ought  to  have  been  run 
due  West  from  the  Circle  twelve  miles  distant  from  New  Castle  at 
the  beginning  of  the  fortieth  degree  of  northern  Latitude  was  run 
in  that  direction  towards  the  end  of  the  said  fortieth  Decree  but  to 


No.  71.] 


G 1 


the  manifest  prejudice  of  your  Petitioners  Wherefore  your  Peti- 
tioners apprehend  that  to  the  Westward  of  Maryland  where  no 
other  Grant  interferes  they  ought  to  have  the  whole  Extent  of  three 
Degrees  of  Latitude  viz1:  from  the  beginning  of  the  fortieth  to  the 
beginning  of  the  forty-third  Degree  of  northern  Latitude. 

“ That  your  Petitioners  also  apprehend  it  is  now  certainly  known 
that  the  said  River  Delaware  doth  extend  to  and  beyond  the  begin- 
ning of  the  three  and  fortieth  Degree  of  Northern  Latitude  from 
twelve  miles  distance  Northwards  of  New  Castle  Town  yet  still  the 
spot  at  which  the  two  and  fortieth  Degree  of  Northern  Latitude 
doth  end  and  the  forty  third  Degree  doth  begin  hath  never  been 
fixed  and  the  whole  Northern  and  Western  Boundaries  and  the 
Southern  Boundary  to  the  Westward  of  Maryland  remain  yet  to  be 
drawn. 

“ That  great  numbers  of  People  under  Grants  from  the  Province 
of  New  York  are  settled  and  daily  settling  in  those  Parts  where  (as 
your  Petitioners  apprehend)  the  Northern  Boundary  of  the  said 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  according  to  the  Intention  of  their  Char- 
ter ought  to  run  and  others  are  settled  and  daily  settling  without 
any  Grants  whatever  in  those  Parts  where  (as  your  Petitioners  ap. 
prehend)  the  Western  Boundary  of  the  said  Province  ought  to  run, 
and  an  Application  having  lately  been  made  to  your  Majesty  for 
erecting  into  separate  Province  a large  Tract  of  Land  on  the  River 
Ohio  to  the  Westward  of  Pennsylvania  unless  the  Bounds  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  be  set  out  and  ascertained  Your  Peti- 
tioners apprehend  great  Contentions  may  hereafter  arise  between 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Province,  and  those  claiming  to  be 
within  the  Lines  of  New  York  or  of  such  other  Province  as  may  be 
erected  to  the  Westward  of  Pennsylvania  and  many  Outrages  be 
committed  the  Perpetrators  whereof  by  reason  of  the  uncertainty 
of  the  said  Northern  and  Western  Boundaries  will  with  difficulty 
be  made  amenable  to  the  Justice  of  any  of  the  said  Provinces. 

“ Wherefore  your  Petitioners  most  humbly  pray  your  Majesty 
that  you  will  be  graciously  pleased  to  order  such  disinterested  Per- 
sons in  those  Parts  as  your  Majesty  shall  think  most  proper  to  be 
appointed  with  Power  to  join  with  such  Persons  as  shall  be  named 
by  vour  Petitioners  for  the  marking  and  ascertaining  the  Beginning 
of  the  forty-third  Degree  of  Northern  Latitude  on  the  said  River 
Delaware  and  for  the  marking  and  ascertaining  a strait  Line  to  the 
Extent  of  five  Degrees  in  Longitude  due  West  from  the  Place  which 
shall  be  ascertained  to  be  the  beginning  of  the  forty  third  Degree 
of  Northern  Latitude  to  be  fixed  and  settled  as  the  Northern  Bound- 
ary of  the  said  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  for  the  marking  and 
ascertaining  a Line  due  South  from  the  Western  Bounds  of  the  said 
Province  of  Maryland  to  the  Beginning  of  the  fortieth  Degree  of 

Northern  Latitude  All  which  your  Petitioners  have 

thought  it  right  to  submit  to  your  Majesty’s  Wisdom  in  Order  that 
your  Majesty  may  if  you  shall  so  please  give  Directions  that  the  said 


[Senate 


62 


Lines  may  accordingly  be  run  to  prevent  any  dispute  which  maty 
hereafter  arise  touching  the  Boundaries  of  the  said  Province. 

“ And  your  Petitioners  (as  in  all  Duty  bound)  shall  ever  pray 
<fec\”* 

From  this  petition  it  seems  that  the  claim  to  lands  beyond  the 
“ beginning  of  the  forty-third  Degree  ” had  been  abandoned.  It 
had  become  evident  to  them  that  King  Charles  had  sold  the  confid- 
ing Quaker  three  degrees  of  latitude  and  had  delivered  but  little 
more  than  two. 


Joint  Action  of  the  Colonies  and  Establishment  of  the  Initial 

Point. 

The  authorities  of  both  Provinces  seem  by  this  time  to  have  been 
seriously  considering  the  necessity  of  marking  the  Boundary,  but  the 
question  of  provision  for  the  expenses  had  first  to  be  settled. 

As  a preliminary  to  the  actual  business  of  marking  the  Boundary 
Governor  Colden  (the  former  Surveyor-General),  in  a letter  to 
Governor  Penn  says  (22  August,  1774),  in  a letter  acknowledging 
a receipt  of  a copy  of  the  petition,  “I  am  entirely  of  your  Opinion 
that  the  ascertaining  and  establishing  the  Boundaries  between  the 
Colonies,  is  a Matter  of  great  Importance  to  both,  and  ought  to  be 
accomplished  without  delay.  You  may,  therefore,  be  assured  that 
I will  recommend  this  Business  to  the  Assembly  at  their  next 
Session.  A Provision  for  the  Expence  must  come  from  them,  on 
which  Head  I can  give  no  Answer  till  they  meet,  which  will  not 
probably  be  before  the  Winter.  Settling  the  Beginning  of  the 
43d  Degree  of  Latitude  on  Delaware  Biver,  would  alone  be  a 
Point  of  much  Consequence,  and  might  in  a great  measure  be  suf- 
ficient at  present  to  prevent  Encroachments  on  either  Side.  This 
might  be  done  much  sooner,  and  at  much  less  Expence,  by  Commis- 
sioners appointed  by  this  and  your  Province,  than  if  refer’ d to 
Commissioners  to  be  appointed  by  the  King.  The  Latitude  may  be 
determined  with  the  greatest  certainty  in  the  months  of  November 
and  December,  by  observing  the  Altitude  of  the  Pole  Star  above 
and  below  the  Pole.  In  this  Method  no  calculation  is  necessary, 
nor  is  there  any  Dependance  on  the  previous  Work  of  others.”  f 

The  Council  seems  to  have  taken  the  subject  of  the  petition 
promptly  into  consideration.  At  a session  held  September  1,  1774, 
the  following  minute  was  made : “ The  Council  humbly  Advise 
that  His  Honor  do  Signify  to  Governor  Penn,  that  they  conceive  it 
to  be  very  expedient,  that  the  Limits  of  this  and  the  Province  of 
Pennsilvania  be  speedily  ascertained  and  marked  out.  But  that  no 
Engagement  can  be  made  for  bearing  any  Part  of  the  Expences 
until  the  General  Assembly  have  taken  the  Subject  Matter  of 
Governer  Penn’s  Letter  into  Consideration.”  J 

Governer  Colden,  in  transmitting  this  action  of  the  Council  to 


* N.  Y.  Col.  MSS.,  c,  147. 
f Penn.  Arch.,  iv,  562. 


\ N.  Y.  Council  Min.,  xxvi,  407 


No.  71.] 


03 


Penn,  says  : “ In  the  Conversation  which  I had  with  the  Gentlemen 
of  the  Council  upon  this  Occasion,  they  were  of  Opinion  that  the 
Assembly  would  not  be  induced  to  bear  pur  Proportion  of  the 
Expence  of  runing  the  whole  Northern  Boundary  of  Pensil vania, 
which  extends  so  much  farther  westward,  than  We  have  any  proba- 
bility of  settling  in  many  years.  Our  Assembly  have  experienced 
such  a heavy  expence  attending  the  appointment  of  Commissioners 
under  the  Great  Seal  of  England,  that  it  may  even  be  apprehended 
they  will  not  at  any  rate,  choose  to  engage  in  that  way.  But  We  do 
not  doubt  they  would  be  willing  to  join  with  you  in  Appointing  two 
Gentlemen,  one  of  each  Province  to  determine  the  Latitude  on 
Delawar  River,  and  the  northern  Boundary,  so  far  as  there  is  any 
room  to  imagine  the  Settlements  on  either  side  can  extend  for  a 
considerable  Time  to  come.  In  which  way  it  may  be  done  very 
effectually,  at  much  less  Expence.”  * 

At  another  meeting  of  the  Council  November  8,  another  minute 
was  read  as  follows : “ Ilis  Honor  the  Lieutenant  Governor  laid 

before  the  Board  a Letter  from  The  Honoble : John  Penn  Esq:  Gov- 
ernor of  Pennsylvania  informing  his  Honor,  that  the  Surveyors  on 
the  Part  of  that  Province,  were  set  out,  and  requesting  his  Honor 
would  direct  the  Surveyor  on  the  Part  of  this  Province  to  proceed 
as  soon  as  possible  to  the  River  Delaware,  and  in  conjunction  with 
the  Pennsilvania  Surveyors  to  fix  the  Forty  second  Degree  of  North 
Latitude  being  the  Boundary  between  the  two  Provinces.  And  the 
said  Letter  having  been  read,  the  council  humbly  advise  that  his 
Honor  do  request  Cap1  Holland  to  act  as  Surveyor  on  the  Part  of 
this  Province,  and  instruct  him  to  act  in  Conjunction  with  the  Sur- 
veyors on  the  part  of  Pennsilvania  in  ascertaining  the  said  Latitude 
of  Forty-two  Degrees  North  being  the  Boundary  before  mentioned.”f 

As  surveyor  on  the  part  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  Dr. 
David  Rittenhouse  had  been  appointed.  Capt.  Holland  was  an  officer 
in  the  British  Army.  He  was  Surveyor-General  of  Lands  in  the 
northern  district  of  America.  Dr.  Rittenhouse  had  previously  made 
observations  for  latitude  upon  the  boundary  of  New  Jersey. 

Capt.  Holland  and  Dr.  Rittenhouse  went  promptly  at  work,  as 
appears  from  their  report  which  was  submitted  to  the  Council  25 
Jan.,  1775. 

This  report  is  as  follows  : 

“ Whereas,  The  Honorable  Cadwalader  Colden  Esquire  Lieu- 
tenant Governor  of  the  Province  of  New  York  with  the  Advice  of 
his  Majesty’s  Council  did  on  the  Eighth  day  of  November  last,  Nomi- 
nate and  appoint  Samuel  Holland  Esquire  &cto  proceed  in  conjunc- 
tion with  Mr  David  Rittenhouse,  or  such  Person  as  might  be  ap- 
pointed on  the  part  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  to  fix  the  be- 
ginning of  the  43d  Degree  of  North  Latitude  on  the  Mohawk  or 
Western  Branch  of  Delaware,  and  to  proceed  Westward  as  far  as  the 
season  would  permit  along  the  Beginning  of  the  said  degree  which  is 
the  Boundary  between  the  Provinces  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 

f N.  Y.  Council  Min.,  xxvi,  413. 


* Penn.  Arch,  iv,  578. 


[Senate 


64 

And  Whereas  the  Honorable  John  Penn  Esquire  Governor  &cA. 
of  Pennsylvania  did  on  the  twenty  fourth  JDay  of  October  last  nomi- 
nate and  appoint  the  said  David  Rittenhouse  to  proceed  on  the  like 
Service  in  (JonjunctionVith  the  said  Samuel  Holland  or  such  Person 
as  should  be  appointed  on  the  Part  of  the  Province  of  Hew  York; 
Now  We  the  said  Samuel  Holland  and  David  Rittenhouse  beg  Leave 
to  make  the  following  joint  Report  of  our  Work  viz1. 

Having  in  proceeding  up  the  said  River  made  several  Observa- 
tions with  a good  Hadley’s  Quadrant,  in  order  to  Determine  nearly 
the  Latitude  required,  We  fixed  our  Instruments  on  the  spot  marked 
A in  the  Annexed  Draught  as  most  convenient  for  our  purpose, 
particularly  an  excellent  Astronomical  Sector  of  six  feet  Radius  made 
by  Mr.  Bird,  with  which  we  made  the  following  Observations  when 
the  several  stars  were  on  our  Meridian. 

1774 

Novr  19th  Zenith  distance  of  a Lyra  + refraction  — 3°.  24'.  40" 

23  Zenith  distance  of.  a Cygni  + refraction  =====  2 29  23 

24  Zenith  distance  of  a Lyra  + refraction  = 3 24  38 

24  Zenith  distance  of  a Cygni  -f  refraction  =2  29  22 

26  Zenith  distance  of  Castor  + refraction  =-=  9 38  36 

27  Zenith  distance  of  a Lyra  -f-  refraction  = 3 24  39 

27  Zenith  distance  of  a Cygni  + refraction  — 2 29  18 

From  the  above  observations  compared  with  the  Declination  of  the 
Stars  as  determined  by  Dr  Bradley,  corrected  by  Aberration  and 
Nutation  We  concluded  our  Latitude  to  be  42°  00'  1".3  that  is  132 
feet  too  far  North  allowing  102  feet  to  a Second,  Double  this  distance 
viz  264  feet  We  measured  on  a Line  bearingS  60°  E in  order  to 
avoid  the  River,  and  there  in  a small  Island  marked  B in  the  Draught 
planted  a Stone  with  the  Letters  new-york,  (ju^  011  one  sjde  aT1q  ou  the 
Top  lat.  42°  var.  4°  20'.  Thence  due  West  on  the  West  side  of 
Delaware  River,  We  collected  a Heap  of  Stones  at  High  Watermark 
and  in  the  said  West  line  4 Perches  distant,  p'anted  another  Stone 
as  at  C with  the  Letters  Pennsylvania  Qut  on  the  South  side  and  on 
the  Top  Lat  42°  Yar.  4°.  20'  and  from  thence  due  West  1 8 P.  marked 
an  Ash  Tree.  But  the  rigour  of  the  Season  prevented  us  from  pro- 
ceeding further. 

SAMUEL  HOLLAND. 

DAVID  RITTENHOUSE.”  f 

Dated  at  Philadelphia  the  14th  December , 1774.  * 


*N.  Y.  Council  Min.,  xxvi,  417-8. 

f Dr.  DAvrD  Rittenhouse  was  accounted  one  of  the  ablest  astronomers  and 
mathematicians  of  his  time.  He  was  of  Herman  descent,  and . was  the  son  of 
Matthias  and  Wilhelmina  Rittenhouse.  He  was  born  8 April,  1742,  in  German- 
town, Penn.  In  his  infancy,  his  father,  who  was  a paper  manufacturer,  aban- 
doned the  occupation  and  removed  to  Norriton.  in  Montgomery  county,  and 
engaged  in  farming.  David,  until  the  age  of  eighteen,  was  employed  upon  the 
farm,  but  was  constantly  occupying  himself  with  mathematical  studies  and  dia- 


\ 


Sketch  No.  2 . 

Map  No.  211. 

OFFICE  OF  SECRETARY  OF  STATE 
Albany,  N . Y. 


No.  71.] 


65 


Sketch  No.  2 is  a copy  of  the  “ Draught”  referred  to  in  the 
report.* 

We  have  very  little  information  as  to  the  preliminary  work  done 
by  Messrs.  Rittenhouse  and  Holland  before  reaching  the  point  which 
they  settled  upon  as  the  approximate  latitude.  Among  the  papers 
of  George  Palmer  now  in  possession  of  the  Historical  Association 
of  Pennsylvania  is  a field-book  of  a traverse  of  the  Delaware  river, 
a copy  of  which  is  given  in  the  Appendix  (App.  G).  The*traverse, 
or  survey  of  the  river  from  a point  some  distance  below  the  present 
Port  Jervis,  terminates  15  November,  1774,  at  a “ beech  stump  cut 
high  for  ye  observation,”  we  can  only  infer  from  the  dates  that 
Messrs.  Ritten house  and  Palmer  gradually  felt  their  way  up  the 
Delaware  until  this  point  was  reached.  That  this  was  probably  the 
case  is  shown  by  Mr.  Rittenkouse’s  account  for  his  services  in  which 

grams.  He  frequently  displayed  proofs  of  his  mechanical  genius.  When  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age,  his  father  set  him  up  as  a clock  and  mathematical  instru- 
ment maker.  He  made  most  of  his  own  tools,  and  applied  himself  to  his  studies 
and  work  until  the  age  of  twenty-five.  His  uncommon  talents  attracted  the 
attention  of  John  Lukens,  afterward  Surveyor-General  of  the  State,  and,  through 
the  influence  of  Mr.  Lukens  and  a few  other  friends,  he  was  induced  to  take  up 
astronomical  work  and  surveying,  in  the  pursuit  of  which  he  himself  made,  or 
had  made  by  his  brother  Benjamin,  the  chronometers  and  other  instruments  nec- 
essary to  his  practice.  He  is  said  to  have  invented  the  vernier  compass  now  in 
use  in  ordinary  surveying.  The  Penus  employed  him,  in  1763,  in  geographical 
work,  preparatory  to  fixing  the  Delaware  and  Maryland  boundary,  particularly 
upon  the  “ New  Castle  Circle.”  He  was  married  in  1766,  20  February,  to  Eleanor 
Colston,  who  died,  and  he  afterward  married  Hannah  Jacobs,  December,  1772. 
November  17,  1767,  he  was  made  Master  of  Arts  by  the  College  of  Philadelphia; 
and,  in  1769,  was  employed  as  astronomer  upon  the  boundary  line  between  New 
Jersey  and  New  York.  In  that  year,  too,  he  was  one  of  the  gentlemen  appointed 
by  the  American  Philosophical  Society  to  observe  the  transit  of  Venus,  the  ob- 
servatory for  which  purpose,  in  Philadelphia,  was  constructed  under  his  direction. 
He  removed  his  residence  to  Philadelphia  in  1770,  when  he  constructed  his 
celebrated  Planetarium.  In  1773,  and  again  in  1781,  he  was  appointed  a commis- 
sioner for  improving  the  navigation  of  the  Schuylkill  river.  In  conjunction  with 
Captain  Samuel  Holland,  of  the  Royal  Engineers,  lie  fixed  the  Initial  Point  of  the 
boundary  between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  in  1774,  and  iu  1785  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  commissioners  for  completing  this  boundary.  He  had 
previously,  in  1784-5,  been  engaged  upon  the  continuation  westward  of  “Mason 
and  Dixon’s  ” line,  and  in  running  the  west  line  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  ac- 
tively employed  upon  the  New  York  boundary  during  a part  of  1786,  but.  in  1787, 
he  was  engaged  upon  a commission  appointed  bv  Congress  to  settle  the  boundary 
between  Massachusetts  and  New  York.  He  was  State  Treasurer  from  1776  to 
1789,  and,  after  the  completion  of  his  boundary  work,  he  devoted  himself  to  astro- 
nomical observations,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the  superintendence  of  surveys 
for  some  of  the  earlier  public  works  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  the  author  of  a 
number  of  published  scientific  papers,  and  succeeded  Dr.  Franklin  as  president  of 
the  American  Philosophical  Society.  He  died  26  June,  1796. 

^Portfolio  Map  No.  211,  Office  of  Secretary  of  State,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  9 


66 


[Senate 


he  charges  for  time  spent  in  surveying  the  river  from  Philadelphia 
to  this  point.* ** 

Here  after  three  or  four  days  engaged  in  preliminary  preparations 
they  commenced  the  observations  which  were  to  fix  for  time  to  come 
the  starting  point  of  the  Boundary  between  two  great  States. 

Governor  Colden  on  26  June,  1775,  sent  the  following  message 
to  the  New  York  General  Assembly : 

“ Gentlemen,  In  the  month  of  August  last,  Governor  Penn 
made  an  overture  to  me,  for  settling  the  boundary  line  between  this 
Province  and  Pennsylvania.  He  very  justly  observed  that,  as  the 
settlements  under  both  governments  were  daily  approaching  the  line, 
it  was  of  great  importance  to  have  the  boundary  marked  without 
delay.  The  gentlemen  of  the  council  were  of  opinion  that  it  would 
be  sufficient  at  this  time,  to  find  the  beginning  of  the  43d  degree  of 
latitude  upon  the  Delaware  and  Susquehannah  rivers ; to  mark  those 
points,  and  so  much  of  the  boundary  line  as  lies  between  them. 
They  advised  me  to  appoint  Samuel  Holland,  Esquire,  to  perform 
the  work  on  the  part  of  this  province,  in  conjunction  with  the  per- 
sons whom  Governor  Penn  should  appoint  on  the  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

“Mr.  Holland  and  Mr.  Rittenliouse  went  upon  this  work  in 
November  last,  and  fixed  the  latitude  on  Delaware  river.  They  met 
with  unexpected  fatigue  and  danger,  from  the  severity  of  the 
weather,  which  made  it  impossible  to  proceed  any  further  I send  you 
Mr.  Holland’s  account ; he  has  advanced  a considerable  part  of  the 
amount,  and  I recommend  to  you,  gentlemen,  now  to  make  provision 
for  the  payment  of  this  service,  which  I have  reason  to  think  has  been 
accurately  performed, ”f  and  upon  the  15th  of  March  the  Assembly 
passed  the  following  resolution  : 

a That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  committee  that  there  be  allowed 
unto  Samuel  Holland,  Esq.  for  his  services  on  the  part  of  this 
colony,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Rittenliouse  on  the  part  of  Penn- 

* The  following  copy  of  Mr.  Rittenliouse’s  bill  was  taken  from  the  Penn  MSS., 
xi,  89  ; 

“ The  Honorable  The  Proprietaries  to  D.  Rittenliouse,  Dr. 

" 1774,  Dec. 

**  For  70  days  of  my  own  time  spent  in  determining  the  Beginning 


of  the  43d.  degree  of  Latitude  on  the  River  Delaware  and  sur- 
veying the  sd  River  from  thence  to  Philadelphia  at  34f £119  „ 0 „ 0 

“ 1775,  June. 

“ For  continuing  the  survey  of  the  river  Delaware  so  far  as  it  is 
a boundary  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  5 days  at  34f  per 

day £8  „ 10  „ 0 

“To  Cash  paid  for  Provisions  on  the  latter  Survey £6  ,,  0 „ 0 


[Endorsed  on  the  back] 

“1775'] 

Aug.  20th 
charges  pd  » 

D.  Rittenliouse 
£133,  ,10,  ,0”  J 

fJour.  N.  Y.  Gen.  Assem.  1775,  pp.  17,  18. 


£133  „ 10  „ 0” 


No.  71.] 


67 


sylvania,  in  fixing  the  beginning  of  the  43d  degree  of  Latitude  upon 
the  River  Delaware  as  per  account,  the  sum  of  l 202  13  6.”* 

And  thus,  with  only  the  intersection  of  the  “beginning  of  the 
three  and  fortieth  degree  of  North  Latitude  ” with  the  Delaware 
River,  marked  upon  the  ground,  the  matter  rested  until  after  the 
Revolution. 

Action  of  the  States  Preliminary  to  a Resumption  of  the 

Survey. 

The  war  had  no  sooner  ended  than  the  merchants  of  Philadelphia 
began  to  agitate  the  question  of  inland  navigation  and  commerce. 
And  upon  the  15  Sept.,  1783,  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsyl- 
vania received  a report  from  the  committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  merchants  upon  this  question,  and  adopted  a series  of  resolu- 
tions, among  which  was  the  following: 

“Third, — To  examine  the  navigation  of  the  Susquehanna  to  the 
sources  of  the  same,  and  ascertain  as  near  as  conveniently  may  be 
where  the  northern  boundary  of  this  State  will  fall,  particularly 
whether  any  part  of  Lake  Erie  is  within  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
taking  particular  notes  of  the  nature  and  geography  of  the  country 
as  to  the  practicability  of  roads,  water  carriage,  air,  soil,  natural  pro- 
ductions, Aca.”f 

Upon  the  20  of  the  same  month  the  General  Assembly  appointed 
William  Maclay,  James  Wilkinson  and  William  Montgomery^'  com- 
missioners to  perform  the  duties  mentioned  in  the  resolution  above 
quoted. 

The  Commonwealth  had  by  treaty  on  23  October,  1784,  extin- 
guished the  Indian  title  to  all  the  land  covered  by  Penn’s  original 
charter  lying  north-west  of  the  line  of  property  fixed  in  1768,  and 
it  was  quite  desirable  that  its  northern  limit  should  be  settled,  both 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  lands  into  market,  and  to  fix  a 
new  boundary  between  the  whites  and  Indians,  who  still  retained 
their  hold  upon  the  lands  in  New  York  west  of  the  line  of  1768. 
Upon  18  Feb.,  1785,  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  took 
action  as  follows : 

“ The  report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Com- 
missioners Ac.,  read  February  16,  was  read  the  second  time  and 
adopted  as  following  (viz.) 

“ The  committee  appointed  on  the  eleventh  instant  to  confer  with 
the  Commissioners  elected  in  pursuance  of  the  third  resolution  of 
the  General  Assembly,  adopted  the  fifteenth  day  of  September 
1783,  to  examine  the  navigation  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  to  ascer- 
tain as  near  as  conveniently  may  be  where  the  northern  boundary  of 
this  State  will  fall  Ac.,  beg  leave  to  report. 

“ That  the  ascertaining  of  the  Northern  boundary  of  this  State  is 

* Idem,  p.  73.  \ Penn.  Arch.,  x,  129. 

\ William  Montgomery  resigned,  and  upon  17tli  August,  1784,  Joseph  Mont- 
gomery was  appointed  in  his  place. 


68 


[Senate 


rendered  the  more  immediately  necessary  by  the  late  purchase  of 
territory  from  the  Indians,  and  the  design  of  opening  the  Land  Of- 
fice for  the  Sale  of  lands  bordering  on  the  said  boundary  especially 
as  your  committee  are  well  informed  that  the  six  nations  of  Indians 
have  appointed  one  of  their  Chiefs  to  attend  the  Commissioners  on 
the  part  of  this  State  in  running  and  marking  the  said  boundary  line 
as  early  as  the  season  will  admit. 

* * * * * * 

“ That  your  committee  have  conferred  with  two  of  the  said  Com- 
missioners, and  find  that  they  are  nearly  prepared  and  propose  to 
set  out  on  the  business  about  the  first  of  April,  but  as  greater  accu- 
racy seems  now  to  be  requisite  in  ascertaining  the  northern  boundary, 
than  was  formerly  in  contemplation,  a further  supply  of  mathe- 
matical instruments  may  be  necessary. 

u Your  Committee  therefore  offer  the  following  Resolutions, 

“ Resolved,  That  the  Commissioners  appointed  in  pursuance  of 
the  said  third  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State, 
adopted  on  the  fifteenth  of  September  1783,  be  directed  to  proceed 
as  early  as  may  be  to  execute  the  objects  of  their  appointment  so 
far  as  may  be  done  without  proceeding  up  the  Susquehanna  beyond 
the  limits  of  this  State,  being  careful  to  mark  the  north  boundary 
line  thereof  in  such  manner  as  that  the  same  may  be  readily  known 
and  understood  by  the  Surveyors  and  settlers,  also  by  the  Indians 
who  may  approach  the  same. 

“ Resolved,”  [this  resolution  authorizes  the  payment  of  sums  nec- 
essary for  purchasing  instruments,  provisions  and  other  necessaries 
for  the  said  service,  not  exceeding  fifty  pounds  to  each  of  the  said 
Commissioners]. 

“ Resolved,  That  the  President  and  Supreme  Executive  Council 
of  this  State  be  desired  to  inclose  the  foregoing  resolutions  to  the 
Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  to  request  that  Commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  that  State  may  be  appointed  to  ruu  and  mark 
a temporary  line  between  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York,  in  conjunction  with  the  Commissioners  of  this  State;  and 
that  the  Commissioners  of  this  State  be  directed  to  meet  at  the 
north-east  corner  of  this  State,  or  Station  point  as  heretofore  settled, 
on  the  first  day  of  April  next.”* 

Governor  Dickinson  at  once  transmitted  the  resolutions  of  the 
General  Assembly  to  the  Governor  of  New  York  in  the  following 
words : 

“ We  inclose  Resolutions  passed  yesterday  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  this  Commonwealth  and  request  that  Commissioners  on  the 
part  of  your  State,  may  be  appointed  to  run  & mark  a temporary 
Line,  according  to  the  said  Resolutions.  The  Commissioners  on  the 
part  of  this  State  are,”f  [names  not  given]. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York  responded  very  promptly  to  the 
action  of  Pennsylvania  and  passed  upon  7 March,  1785,  “ An  ACT 


*Penn.  Arch.,  x,  412,  413. 


f Penn;  Arch.,  x,  413. 


No.  71.] 


69 


for  running  out  and  marking  the  jurisdiction  Line  between  this 
State  and  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania.” 

This  act,  after  reciting  the  action  already  taken  by  the  two  States 
(Provinces),  in  1774,  in  fixing  the  Initial  Point  at  the  Delaware,  pro- 
vided for  the  appointment  of  three  commissioners  by  the  Governor 
who  should  meet  the  commissioners  appointed  on  the  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  “ then  and  there  run  out,  mark  and  ascertain  the  said 
Line  of  Jurisdiction  between  this  State  and  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania , beginning  at  the  Place  so  fixed  and  ascertained  by 
the  said  Commissioners  as  above  mentioned,  on  the  Mohawk , or 
Western  Branch  of  Delaware , at  the  Beginning  of  the  Forty-third 
Degree  of  North  Latitude,  and  from  thence  to  proceed  Westward, 
along  the  Beginning  of  the  said  Forty-third  Degree  of  North  Lati- 
tude, as  far  as  this  State  and  the  said  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania border  on  each  other.”'* 

These  commissioners  were  also  u empowered  to  employ  a Sur- 
veyor or  Surveyors,  Chain-bearers  and  such  and  so  many  other  Per- 
sons as  may  be  found  necessary  to  perform  the  executive  Part,  in 
running,  marking  and  ascertaining  the  said  Line,  in  Conjunction 
with  such  Person  or  Persons  as  may  be  appointed  on  the  part  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania , for  that  Purpose  ; and  such  Line 
so  agreed  upon,  approved  of,  and  consented  to  by  said  Commission- 
ers, or  any  two  of  them,  and  such  Person  or  Persons  as  shall  be 
appointed  by  and  on  the  Part  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania,, being  reported  to  the  Persons  administring  the  Government 
of  this  State,  and  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania , for  the 
Time  being,  and  ratified  and  confirmed  by  the  Legislature  of  this 
State  and  the  Legislature  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania , 
shall  hereafter  be  the  Line  of  Jurisdiction  between  this  State  and 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania ,”  and  an  appropriation  of  one 
thousand  pounds  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the 
expenses.f 

Four  days  afterward  Governor  Clinton  transmitted  to  Governor 
Dickinson  a copy  of  this  act  with  the  following  remarks: 

“Previous  to  my  receipt  of  your  Excellency’s  Letter  of  the  19th 
February,  inclosing  Resolutions  of  your  General  Assembly,  a Bill 
had  originated  in  our  Legislature  for  running  and  marking  the  ju- 
risdiction Line  between  this  State  and  Pennsylvania,  which  has  since 
passed  into  a Law,  and  I have  now  the  Honor  to  inclose  you  a Copy 
of  it. 

“ Your  Excellency  will  perceive  that  instead  of  a temporary  Line 
between  the  two  States,  which  appears  to  be  the  object  of  your  As- 
sembly, our  Law  provides  for  the  establishment  of  a permanent 
Line;  and  I flatter  myself,  that  upon  a reconsideration  of  the  matter, 
your  Legislature  will  concur  in  the  Idea.  I presume  it  will  be  ad- 

* Laws  of  N.  Y.  (Jones  and  Varick),  i,  194,  195. 

fLaws  of  N.  Y.  (Jones  and  Varick),  i,  194,  195.  Ah  Act  supplementary  to  this 
Act,  providing  for  filling  vacancies  in  the  Commission  was  passed  21  April.  1787 
(Jones  and  Varick),  ii,  172. 


70  [Senate 

mitted  if  a temporary  Line  only  was  to  run,  it  should  be  done  with 
accuracy  to  prevent  the  obvious  inconveniences  which  the  Borderers 
would  be  subject  to  as  the  Settlements  advance  on  either  side  ; and 
the  consequent  broils  which  the  two  States  might  be  involved  in  by 
an  incorrect  Line  in  the  first  Instance,  and  in  this  Case  there  can  be 
but  little  additional  expence  incurred  in  rendering  it  perfect  and 
permanent. 

“ By  the  Act,  you  will  observe,  it  is  left  with  our  Council  to  ap- 
point Commissioners  for  this  Service  on  the  part  of  this  State, 
which  shall  be  done,  and  Their  Names  transmitted  to  your  Excel- 
lency, and  every  other  necessary  Arrangement  made  on  our  part  for 
carrying  the  business  into  effect,  so  soon  as  I shall  be  informed  of 
the  Concurrence  of  your  State.”* 

Pennsylvania  responded  31  March  in  the  following  action  by  the 
General  Assembly  : 

“ Whereas,  it  appears  by  documents  and  papers  laid  before  this 
General  Assembly,  that  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York 
have  by  law  provided  for  the  running  out,  marking  and  ascertain- 
ing the  boundary  line  between  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania 
and  the  State  of  New  York,  so  that  the  same  may  be  the  fixed  and 
permanent  line  of  jurisdiction  between  the  said  States. 

“ Resolved,  that  the  resolution  of  the  fifteenth  day  of  September, 
1783,  for  appointing  Commissioners  for  certain  purposes  therein 
mentioned  and  the  resolution  of  the  eighteenth  day  of  February 
last,  for  enlarging  the  powers  of  the  Commissioners  appointed  in 
pursuance  of  the  said  resolve  of  the  fifteenth  day  of  September 
aforesaid,  so  as  to  enable  them  to  run  out  and  mark  a temporary  line 
of  jurisdiction  between  this  State  and  the  State  of  New  York,  be, 
and  the  same  hereby  are,  rescinded  and  made  null  and  void. 

“Resolved,  that  the  Executive  Council  be,  and  the  said  Council  is 
hereby  empowered  to  draw  otders  on  the  Treasurer  of  this  State 
for  the  payment  of  such  sum  or  sums  of  money  as  shall  appear  to 
be  due  to  each  of  the  said  Commissioners  for  any  services  due  or  ex- 
pences  borne  by  them,  or  either  of  them,  under  their  appointment 
as  aforesaid.”! 

These  resolutions  were  supplemented  by  “ An  Act  to  authorize 
and  enable  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  to  appoint  commission- 
ers, to  join  with  the  commissioners  appointed  or  to  be  appointed  on 
the  part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  to  ascertain  the  northern  bound- 
ary of  this  State  from  the  river  Delaware,  westward  to  the  north- 
west corner  of  Pennsylvania,”  which  was  passed  the  same  day. 

The  Council  appointed  David  Bittenhouse  and  Andrew  Porter  as 
commissioners  under  this  act,  and  6 April,  Governor  Dickinson 
transmitted  to  Governor  Clinton  a copy  of  the  new  law  with  the 
names  of  the  new  commissioners. 

By  the  passage  of  the  new  series  of  Resolutions  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Assembly,  rescinding  the  previous  action  for  fixing  a tempo- 


*Penn.  Arch.,  x,  422. 


f Penn.  Arch.,  x,  710. 


No.  71.] 


71 


rary  line,  the  commissioners  previously  appointed,  Messrs.  Maclay 
and  Montgomery,  were  relieved  from  duty.  Apparently  the  only 
act  performed  by  these  gentlemen  which  appears  on  the  record  was, 
the  purchase  of  a transit  instrument,*  22  Feb.,  1785  at  an  expense 
of  thirty  pounds.  It  is  possible  they  may  have  accomplished  more 
than  this,  in  establishing  a temporary  line,  as  we  shall  presently  see. 
These  gentlemen  were  advised  of  the  appointment  of  the  new  com- 
missioners by  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  about  three  weeks 
after  the  passage  of  the  rescinding  resolutions. 

Upon  2 May  following,  Gov.  Clinton  wrote  as  follows  to  Gov. 
Dickinson : 

“ Since  I had  the  Honor  of  receiving  your  Excellency’s  last  Letter, 
Phillip  Schuyler, f James  Clinton  $ and  Simeon  DeWitt,  Esquires 
have  been  appointed  on  the  Part  of  this  State  for  running  and  as- 
certaining the  jurisdiction  Line  between  your  State  and  this,  so  that 
nothing  now  remains  to  be  done,  but  the  appointing  a Time  for  the 
commencement  of  the  Business  and  making  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  carrying  it  into  execution.  I should  suppose  if  these  were 

*Dr.  Rittenliouse  in  his  letter  12  Mays  1785,  called  it  a “small  astronomical 
Quadrant.” 

f Schuyler  did  not  act. 

\ Gen.  James  Clinton  was  the  third  son  of  Colonel  Charles  Clinton,  who  set- 
tled in  Ulster  county,  New  York,  in  1731.  Col.  Clinton  was  an  excellent  mathe- 
matician, and  frequently  practiced  land  surveying.  He  was  judge  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  of  Ulster  county,  and  a man  of  wide  influence.  James  Clinton 
was  born  9 August,  1736.  In  1757  he  was  commissioned  ensign  in  the  Provincial 
army,  and  in  1759  had  attained  the  rank  of  captain,  and  commanded  a company 
at  the  capture  of  Fort  Frontenac.  He  continued  in  the  Provincial  service  until 
1763.  In  that  year  he  raised  and  commanded  a battalion  of  four  companies  in 
defense  of  Ulster  county  against  the  Indians.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  retired 
to  private  life  and  married  Mary  DeWitt,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons,  the  third  of 
whom,  DeWitt  Clinton,  born  in  1769,  was  Governor  of  New  York,  and  father  of 
the  Erie  canal.  In  1770  Col.  Clinton  was  appointed  surveyor  upon  the  New 
Jersey  and  New  York  boundary  by  the  New  York  commissioners.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  Revolution,  while  a delegate  to  the  First  Provincial  Congress,  he 
was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Third  New  York  Regiment.  In  1776  he  was  pro- 
moted to  brigadier-general,  and  was  engaged  in  the  expedition  against  Canada 
under  Gen.  Montgomery.  With  an  insufficient  force  in  1777  he  was  stationed  at 
Fort  Montgomery  on  the  Hudson,  and  made  a firm  but  unsuccessful  defense 
against  the  attack  of  the  British  army  under  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  He  was  wounded, 
but  escaped  capture.  In  1778  he  was  stationed  at  West  Point,  and  constructed 
the  chain  across  the  river  to  intercept  the  enemy’s  ships.  June  1,  1779,  Gen. 
Clinton,  in  command  of  2,000  troops,  moved  by  way  of  Otsego  lake  and  Susque- 
hanna river  to  join  Sullivan  in  his  expedition  against  the  Six  Nations.  At  the 
time  of  Arnold’s  treason  he  was  ordered  to  Albany  and  took  command  of  the 
northern  department.  He  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  York- 
town.  Gen.  Clinton  was  a member  of  the  first  Board  of  Regents  of  the  Univer- 
sity, appointed  in  1784,  and  in  1785  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Clinton,  who 
was  his  youngest  brother,  as  one  of  the  commissioners  for  the  survey  of  the  Penn- 
sylvan^  boundary.  Elected  a delegate  to  the  convention  of  1787,  which  formed 
the  Federal  Constitution,  he  resigned  the  boundary  commissionership.  He  was 
member  of  assembly  from  Ulster  county  in  1788,  and  was  in  that  year  elected 
State  senator  and  served  four  years.  He  represented  Orange  county  in  the  as- 
sembly in  1800-1,  and  was  a member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  in 
1801.  His  death  occurred  22  December,  1812.  The  late  Vice-Chancellor  Clinton 
of  the  Regents  of  the  University  was  a grandson  of  Gen.  Clinton. 


72 


[Senate 


to  be  submitted  to  the  Gentlemen  respectively  appointed  to  perform 
the  service  matters  Might  be  so  concerted  by  them  as  not  only  to 
facilitate  it  and  save  expences  but  so  as  best  to  suit  their  own  Pri- 
vate Con  veil  iencj7.  I shall  be  happy  therefore  if  this  sentiment  should 
meet  with  your  Excellency’s  Concurrence.”* * * § 

This  letter  was  transmitted  to  Messrs.  Rittenhouse  and  Porter 
with  the  following  note:  “I  received  the  inclosed  Letter  from  Gov’r 
Clinton  late  last  night ; & as  his  proposal  of  a Correspondence  be- 
tween you  & the  Commissioners  of  the  State  of  New  York,  appears 
very  proper  to  be  adopted,  I think  it  necessary  that  the  Communica- 
tion should  be  made  to  you  before  you  set  out  on  your  journey  to 
the  westward.”  f 

Dr.  Rittenhouse  responded  as  follows,  May  8 : 

“ I thank  your  Excellency  for  communicating  Governor  Clinton’s 
Letter.  I likewise  received  one  last  evening  from  Mr.  DeWitt  one 
of  the  Gentlemen  appointed  by  the  State  of  New  York  for  ascer- 
taining the  Boundary  Line.  He  proposes  their  meeting  us  at  Phila- 
delphia to  concert  measures  for  carrying  the  business  into  execution, 
and  wishes  to  receive  our  propositions  by  the  next  Post,  as  he  is 
going  to  set  off  soon  for  Albany.  He  says  they  must  depend  on  us 
for  the  necessary  Instruments.  I believe  there  is  no  Instrument  fit 
for  the  purpose  in  this  part  of  America  excepting  the  6 feet  Sector 
belonging  to  Mr.  Penn.  But  I have  been  for  some  time  employed 
in  making  one  which  will  be  much  more  portable  than  that  of  Mr. 
Penn,  and  I doubt  not,  equally  accurate.  It  might  soon  be  finished 
if  I was  not  obliged  to  go  to  the  westward.;}: 

“ Whether  the  Northern  Boundary  may  be  deferred  to  another 
season  Council  alone  can  determine.  I wi-h  it  might,  as  it  seems 
scarcely  possible  to  attend  to  both  this  Summer ; if  not  I see  nothing 
more  eligible  than  the  plan  agreed  on  viz1,  for  me  to  return  some 
time  in  June,  But  I wish  to  remind  your  Excellency  how  little  my 
Constitution  is  adapted  to  so  much  fatigue. ”§ 

Governor  Dickinson  replied  the  next  day  that  the  Council  had 
u thought  proper  to  direct,  that  you  & Coll.  Porter  should  proceed 
to  the  westward  agreeably  to  their  instructions  of  the  6tli  inst.  and 
that  you  should  enter  upon  an  immediate  correspondence  with  the 
New  York  Commissioners  and  with  them,  determine  when  you  can 
proceed  to  ascertain  the  northern  Line.”|| 

Dr.  Rittenhouse  wrote  12  May  to  Hon.  James  Irving,  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Council,  thus  : “ When  the  marking  a temporary  Line 
between  this  State  and  New  York  was  talked  of  a small  astronomi- 
cal Quadrant  was  purchased  for  that  purpose,  it  is  very  portable  and 
would  be  useful  on  the  western  Line,  not  for  the  purpose  of  running 
the  line  or  fixing  the  N.  W.  corner  but  for  correcting  the  Geography 

*Penn.  Arch.,  x,  450.  f Idem,  x,  454. 

JThe  line  between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  upon  which  Messrs.  Rittenhouse, 

Porter,  and  Ellicott  were  commissioners,  was  run  in  1785.  It  was  on  this  account 
that  the  survey  of  the  New  York  boundary  was  deferred  until  the  next  year. 

§ Penn.  Arch.,  x,  454.  | Idem,  x,  455. 


SWttcyU.  3 


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%N8«V.  n\%Q  \ss  VW-NC^  oV^\v^C  ^^>so\nnsv.c^^s\(x<'<0w\v\7) 


Sketch  No.  4 . 


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K 


No.  71.] 


73 


of  the  Country,  as  it  is  public  property  and  at  present  in  my  pos- 
session I would  not  hesitate  to  take  it  with  me  if  I was  assured  that 
it  will  not  be  wanted  by  the  Gentlemen  who  were  going  on  the  tem- 
porary Line.  I shall  be  much  obliged  to  you  for  any  information  on 
this  matter.”  * 

Independent  Surveys  for  the  Location  of  Lands. 

Meanwhile,  settlers  were  impatiently  awaiting  the  formal  action 
of  the  two  States  preparatory  to  the  final  adjustment  of  the  line. 
Numerous  applications  were  received  by  the  Pennsylvania  Land 
Office  for  the  location  of  warrants  in  the  north-eastern  part  of  the 
State,  and  in  1784  Surveyor- General  Lukens  sent  George  Palmer  to 
the  point  fixed  by  Rittenhouse  and  Holland,  with  instructions  to 
explore  the  Boundary  as  far  west  as  the  Susquehanna,  and  lay  out 
warrants  in  the  north  part  of  the  present  county  of  Wayne. 

June  1,  Mr.  Palmer  reached  the  Initial  Point  and  after  a search 
of  an  hour  and  a half,  found  the  monument  which  he  had  assisted  in 
placing  ten  years  before,  and  from  which  he  ran  a line  west  to  the 
Susquehanna,  a distance  of  twelve  and  five-eighths  miles.  His  diary 
and  field-book  of  this  survey  are  now  in  the  possession  of  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Pennsylvania,  and  copies  of  these,  as  well  as  his 
commission  as  Deputy  Surveyor,  are  given  in  Appendix  G.  Sketch 
No.  3,  is  a copy  of  Mr.  Palmer’s  plot  of  this  Survey .f  The  diary 
of  two  of  his  assistants  is  also  given  in  Appendix  G.  The  original 
is  also  in  the  possession  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  Palmer,  upon  the  completion  of  the  survey  of  this  portion  of 
the  line,  proceeded  to  lay  out  warrants  based  upon  it  from  the  Dela- 
ware river  to  a point  seven  miles  west.  When  the  present  line  was 
run  two  years  afterward  the  latter  diverged  to  the  south  from  Mr. 
Palmer’s  line  until  at  the  Susquehanna  river  they  were  454  feet 
apart.  J There  is  no  doubt  that  the  surveys  of  several  of  the  earlier 
tracts  in  the  south-east  part  of  Broome  county,  New  York,  were  also 
based  upon  the  Palmer  line.  The  latter  is  still  held  as  the  land 
boundary  at  and  near  mile-stone  2.  And  a point  near  milestone 
10  the  Palmer  line  some  371  to  391  feet  north  of  the  present  line 
was  held  until  1865  by  Pennsylvania  owners  as  the  true  line. 

* Penn.  Arcli.,  x,  458. 

f Sketch  No.  4 shows  the  relation  of  Palmer’s  line  to  the  State  line. 

if  The  description  of  Hooper’s  2000-acre  Tract  granted  in  1785,  begins  here.  The 
survey  was  made  by  James  Clinton  in  1786  (the  map  was  filed  in  the  Secretary’s 
office  June  6,)  probably  while  he  was  running  the  Boundary.  He  commences  his 
certificate  thus  : “ Began  the  Survey  of  Hooper’s  Tract  on  Pennsylvania  Line  at 

a Stake  and  Stones  by  it  marked  Pa.  on  one  side  and  N.  Y.  on  the  other  side, 
6.88  ch.  South  from  the  random  line  standing  on  the  East  bank  of  the  Susque- 
hanna River  and  run  from  there  along  the  Pennsylvania  line  south  86°  65'  East 
100  ch.”  The  random  line  referred  to  was  probably  George  Palmer’s  line  of  1784, 
as  the  commissioners  “Random”  was  south  of  Clinton’s  place  of  beginning.  The 
description  in  the  original  grant  before  the  survey  was  made,  runs,  “ Beginning 
on  East  bank  of  Susquehanna  River  on  the  Jurisdiction  Line  between  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania  and  runs  thence  eastward  along  said  Line.”  ; 

• [Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  ~ 10 


74 


[Senate 


Palmer’s  line  was  continued  west  to  the  second  intersection  of 
the  river  in  June,  1784,  by  Deputy  Surveyor  William  Gray,  who 
based  the  surveys  of  a tier  of  warrants  upon  it. 

In  the  north-west  corner  of  the  State,  the  Legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania had  set  apart  a tract  of  land  as  a donation  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania soldiers  who  served  during  the  Revolutionary  War  to  whom 
the  warrants  of  survey  were  issued.  The  warrants  in  District  No. 
10  were  surveyed  by  David  Watts  in  1785  and  returns  were  made 
by  him  to  the  Surveyor-General  12  Feb.  1786.  A map  of  the  dis- 
trict was  made  from  the  returned  surveys  by  direction  of  Surveyor- 
General  Lukens,  upon  the  margin  of  which  are  the  following  legend 
and  certificates : — 

“A  draught  of  the  Surveys 
Made  in 

District  No.  10  of  the  Donation  Lands  by  David  Watts,  Deputy 

Surveyor  of  said  Diftrict  as  returned  by  him  into  the  Surveyor 

Gen1.  Office 

February  12th  1786 

Protracted  from  a scale  of  200  perches  to  an  Inch 
Magnetic  Variation.” 

“ Surv.  Gen1.  Office,  Aug.  21,  1786. 

“ The  above  Draught  is  constructed  from  and  compared  with  the 
Original  returns  remaining  in  my  Office. 

“ Jn°  Lukens,  S.  G.” 

“ Surveyor  General’s  Office  September  23,  1834. 

“ I certify  that  the  above  draft  is  a copy  of  the  Original  made  in 
conformity  with  an  act  of  Assembly  passed  16th  February,  1833. 

“ Jacob  Spangler,  S.  G.  ” 

“ This  District  is  bounded  North  by  the  Northern  Boundaries  of 
the  State.” 

The  Donation  Lands  were  set  apart  by  a proclamation  of  Governor 
Mifflin  in  which  the  boundaries  are  described  thus : “ Beginning  at 
the  Mouth  of  Mogulbughtiton*  Creek  thence  up  the  Allegany 
River  to  the  mouth  of  Conawaga  Creek  thence  due  North  to  the 
Northern  Boundary  of  this  State  thence  West  by  the  said  Bound- 
ary to  the  North  W est  Corner  of  the  State  thence  South  bv  the 
Western  Boundary  of  the  State  to  the  North-West  Corner  of  Lands 
appropriated  for  discharging  depreciation  Certificates  and  thence  by 
the  same  Lands  to  the  place  of  Beginning.”  f 

The  proclamation  is  dated  24  April,  1789. 

After  the  present  State  line  was  run  and  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
* pany  commenced  its  surveys  in  New  York,  many  of  these  Donation 
warrants  were  found  to  be  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

John  Cochran,  Deputy  Surveyor  of  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
was  directed  by  the  Surveyor-General  to  examine  into  the  interference. 

Sketch  No.  5 exhibits  the  situation  as  he  found  it 


* Mahoning  Creek. 


f Penn.Physick.  MSS.,  iv,  284. 


AMITY  j,  i VENANGO 


Sketch  No.  5. 

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COLUMBUS 


No.  71.] 


75 


Among  the  papers  formerly  in  the  possession  of  the  late  Jacob 
Fatzinger,  Jr.,  now  deposited  with  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, is  a large  map  in  pencil,  much  dilapidated,  evidently  a compi- 
lation by  George  Palmer  from  his  surveys  along  the  Delaware  river 
and  in  the  north-eastern  part  of  Pennsylvania.  It  shows  that  a line 
west  of  the  Susquehanna  below  Great  Bend,  had  been  surveyed,  the 
miles  being  numbered  from  the  west,  terminating  at  the  left  bank  of 
the  river  at  a beech  36  miles  and  206  perches.  The  'west 
portion  of  the  map  is  torn  off,  so  that  the  starting  point  does  not 
appear,  but  it  was  doubtless  at  the  Susquehanna  river  east  of 
Waverly.  This  line  bears  the  legend,  “ S.  87  E.  supposed  to  be 
at  or  near  the  Northern  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania.”  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania  are  each  designated  “ Province,”  indicating  that  the 
map  may  have  been  made  before  or  during  the  Revolution.  The 
line  here  shown  may  have  been  run  by  the  Proprietaries  at  the  close 
of  the  Revolution  as  a temporary  limit  to  their  warrant  surveys. 
When  it  was  done,  or  by  whom,  is  unknown,  as  no  field-notes  or 
other  memoranda  relating  to  it  have  been  found.  It  w~as  probably 
a short  distance  south  of  the  present  line  as  at  one  point  in  the  north- 
west part  of  Susquehanna  county,  an  old  line  about  a quarter  of  a 
mile  south  of,  and  nearly  parallel  with  the  Boundary,  has  long  been 
known  as  the  “ Old  State  Line.” 

The  second  tier  of  warrants  south  of  the  Boundary  in  Susquehanna 
county,  Penn.,  west  of  the  Susquehanna  river  were  evidently  based 
upon  this  line,  as  the  warrants  which  were  surveyed  in  1784-5,  are 
in  each  case,  for  over  twenty  miles,  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
“ State  of  New  York.”  This  tier  of  warrants  bounded  thus,  has 
been  traced  into  the  eastern  part  of  Bradford  county. 

The  early  surveys  of  the  lands  south  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  in 
Broome  and  Tioga  counties,  were  also  based  upon  a temporary  line 
partly  run  in  1774  or  1775,  by  Robert  Lettis  Hooper,  upon  which,  at 
the  wrest  end  adjoining  the  river,  he  laid  out  a British  Military  Land 
Warrant,  which,  with  several  tracts  east  of  it  laid  out  (upon  paper) 
in  1786,*  were  found  in  1810,  to  encroach  upon  Pennsylvania  lands. 
It  is  hardly  probable  that  this  line  was  identical  with  that  shown 
upon  George  Palmer’s  map.  It  terminated  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Susquehanna,  at  its  western  extremity,  at  “ a Birch  tree  marked  on 
two  sides  with  three  Notches  a blaze  above  them,”  nearly  a mile 
below  the  present  boundary.  At  its  eastern  extremity  at  the  mid- 
dle intersection  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  it  was  probably  north  of 
the  present  line. 

Deputy  Surveyor  William  Maclay,  who  wTas  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  in  1783, f 
in  1784  or  1785  ran  a line,  which  he  designated  as  the  “ Temporary 
line  of  the  Sta’te,”  across  the  Susquehanna  Valley  and  Chemung 
Flats  in  the  north  part  of  the  present  county  of  Bradford.  This 
line  is  from  one-half  to  five-eighths  of  a mile  south  of  the  present 


* See  chapter  upon  “ Early  Land  Surveys.”  f Penn.  Arch.,  x.,  130. 


76 


[Senate 


boundary,  and  forms  the  north  line  of  the  tract  of  “ Northumber- 
land Lottery”  warrants,  laid  out  by  him  in  1785.  And  for  three 
or  four  miles  across  and  near  the  Tioga  Yalley  near  milestone  90. 
Maclay  isrknown  to  have  run  in  1785  what  he  designated  in  the  survey 
of  two  large  warrants,  the  “Temporary  line  of  York  State,”  which 
was  apparently  a trifle  north  of  the  present  line.  The  presumption 
is  that  he,  under  his  appointment  as  commissioner,  ran  this  tempo- 
rary line  through  from  one  river  to  the  other.  How  much  further 
west  he  ran  is  unknown.  A couple  of  warrants  were  laid  out  in 

1785,  in  the  vicinity  of  milestone  100,  which  were  probably  based 
upon  a continuation  of  this  line. 

Maclay’s  line  was  continued  east  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  but 
was  never  used  as  a base  line  for  warrant  surveys,  unless  the  line 
through  the  north-east  part  of  Bradford  and  north-west  part  of  Sus- 
quehanna counties,  referred  to  above,  was  a prolongation  of  this  line. 
Maclay’s  line  may  be  the  line  indicated  upon  the  George  Palmer  map. 

Thus  it  seems  that  attempts  were  made  to  locate  the  eastern  90  or 
100  miles  of  the  Boundary  before  the  States  were  ready  to  act. 

Survey  of  1786-7. 

Although  the  commissioners  of  the  two  States  were  appointed  early 
in  1785,  in  consequence  of  the  engagement  of  the  commissioners 
from  Pennsylvania,  upon  the  western  boundary  of  that  State,  it  was 
summer  in  1786  before  they  were  ready  for  operations  on  this 
Boundary.  No  field-notes  or  diary  relating  to  their  preparations  or 
the  survey  itself  have  ever  been  found,  and  all  the  information  we 
have  relating  to  their  operations  is  contained  in  their  brief  formal 
reports  and  a few  letters. 

Andrew  Eilicott,  who  had  been  associated  with  Messrs.  Ritten- 
house  and  Porter  upon  the  survey  of  the  western  boundary,  as  a 
commissioner  for  Virginia,  had  been  appointed  an  additional  com- 
missioner on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania  for  the  survey  of  the  northern 
boundary,  and  upon  3 April,  1786,  Mr.  Rittenhouse  wrote  him, 
“By  direction  of  Council  I wrote  some  time  ago  to  the  gentlemen 
appointed  by  the  State  of  New  York  for  running  the  northern 
boundary  of  this  State.  I have  received  their  answer;  which  is, 
that  they  will  meet  us  at  Philadelphia  on  the  20th  of  this  month, 
in  order  to  concert  measures  for  carrying  that  business  into  execu- 
tion. It  will  be  necessary  for  you  to  attend,  and  I shall  confidently 
expect  you  — ’till  then,  I must  defer  many  things  I have  to  say  to 
and  settle  with  you  : perhaps  copying  the  Nautical  Almanack  may 
wait  until  I see  you.  Hurry  of  business  will  not  permit  me  to  add 
more.”*  Mr.  Eilicott’ s commission  was  not  issued  until  16  June, 

1786,  and  was  signed  by  the  Hon.  Charles  Biddle,  Vice-President 
of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council. 

When  the  commissioners  commenced  operations  in  the  field,  we 
have  no  information,  but  a letter  from  Eilicott  to  his  wife  was  writ- 


\ * Barton’s  Mem.  of  Rittenhouse,  p.  239. 


\jM' 


Ulff 


0/ 


Lu-jHary 


/^1N  OiS- 


No.  71.] 


77 


ten  from  the  “ Banks  of  the  Susquehannali,  August  6th,  17S6.”  Ac- 
cording to  Ellicott' s letter  to  Robert  Patterson,  quoted  elsewhere, 
their  first  observations  for  latitude  at  this  point  were  made  upon  the 
night  of  21  July.  ' 

In  1786,  ninety  miles  were  completed,  as  appears  from  the  re- 
port which  is  signed  by  Ellicott,  Clinton  and  DeWitt,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

“We  the  subscribers  being  appointed  Commissioners  agreeably 
to  Laws  severally  Enacted  by  the  Legislatures  of  the  commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  State  of  New  York,  for  the  purpose  of 
running  and  marking  a Boundary  Line  between  the  said  States,  to 
begin  at  the  River  Delaware  in  forty  two  Degrees  North  Latitude, 
and  to  continue  in  the  same  Parallel  of  forty  two  Degrees,  to  the 
western  Extremity  of  the  sd.  States, — Have  in  conformity  to  our 
appointment  finished  ninety  miles  of  the  sd.  Boundary,  extending 
from  the  River  Delaware  to  the  Western  side  of  the  South  Branch 
of  the  Tioga  River,  and  marked  the  same  with  substantial  mile 
stones.  Witness  our  Hands  and  seals,  this  twelfth  day  of  October 
in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  Eighty  six,  1786.”* 

Commissioners  Clinton  and  DeWitt  transmitted  to  Governor 
Clinton  of  New  York,  a copy  of  the  report  with  the  following  let- 
ter dated  December  1,  1786 : 

“ Sir  By  virtue  of  our  Commission  and  agreably  to  the  Act  of 
the  Legislature  made  for  that  purpose  we  have  in  conjunction  with 
the  Commissioners  appointed  on  the  part  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania  run  and  marked  the  Jurisdiction  Line  between  the 
said  Commonwealth  and  this  State  on  the  Latitude  of  forty  two 
Degrees  from  the  Delaware  to  the  South  Branch  of  the  Tioga  River 
comprehending  ninety  Miles  as  will  appear  by  the  Instrument  of 
writing  signed  by  the  said  Commissioners  and  herewith  inclosed  to 
your  Excellency. 

“ We  have  to  observe  that  the  accuracy  which  a work  of  such  im- 
portance demands  and  the  difficulty  of  transporting  provisions  to  a 
distant  part  through  an  uninhabited  Country  has  augmented  the  ex- 
pense to  a sum  higher  than  what  we  at  first  apprehended,  altho’  we 
trust  that  by  our  accounts  it  will  appear  that  the  greatest  CEconomy 
has  been  observed,  and  that,  if  it  shall  be  deemed  necessary  for  this 
State  to  prosecute  the  business  the  next  season  in  conjunction  witji 
Pennsylvania  a farther  supply  by  the  Legislature  for  the  purpose 
will  be  requisite. 

“ The  Commissioners  of  Pennsylvania  are  directed  by  a Law  of 
that  State  to  continue  the  running  of  the  Line  even  if  New  York 
should  omit  to  co-operate  with  them.”f 

Of  the  operations  in  1787  we  have  a few  more  details,  although 
even  these  are  quite  meager.  Andrew  Ellicott  and  Andrew  Porter 
acted  as  commissioners  for  Pennsylvania,  and  Abraham  Harden- 
bergli  and  William  W.  Morris  for  New  York.  Mr.  Rittenhouselb 

*Penn.  Arcli.,  xi,  522. 


i 


f Clinton  MSS.,  xxi,  5790. 


78 


[Senate 


being  engaged  in  settling  the  boundary  between  Massachusetts  and 
New  York  was  unable  to  continue  actively  upon  this  Boundary,  al- 
though he  retained  his  position  as  a commissioner. 

March  15,  1787,  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  addressed  a note 
to  Governor  Clinton  of  New  York,  as  follows: 

“ I have  the  honor  to  inform  your  Excellency,  that  as  the  Season 
for  resuming  the  business  of  the  partition  line  between  this  State 
and  that  of  New  York  is  now  fast  approaching,  The  Commissioners 
of  this  State  have  it  in  instruction  to  communicate  with  the  Com- 
missioners of  yours  upon  the  measures  which  must  necessarily  be 
Concerted  previously  to  their  setting  off,  and  that  for  this  purpose 
will  attend  at  New  York  on  the  25th  dajr  of  this  month.”  * 

Simeon  De  Witt,  in  a communication  to  Governor  Clinton,  27 
March,  transmits,  “the  particulars  of  the  accounts  of  Expenses 
incurred  in  running  and  marking  the  Jurisdiction  Line  between  this 
State  and  Pennsylvania  the  general  heads  of  which  have  already 
been  exhibited  to  your  Excellency  I expected  to  have  had  in  my 
power  to  present  them  earlier  but  the  authenticated  accounts  from 
the  Pennsylvania  Gentlemen  which  Mr.  Rittenhouse  informs  me 
have  been  sent  by  the  post  a considerable  time  ago  have  never  come 
to  hand.f  This  has  obliged  me  to  make  a Jorney  to  Philadelphia. 

* Penn.  Arch.,  xi,  125. 

f This  hill  of  expenses  covers  four  foolscap  pages.  The  following  abstract, 
with  a few  of  the  items  given  in  full : 

“The  State  of  New  York 


To  James  Clinton  and  Simeon  De  Witt,  Dr : 

“ For  one  half  of  the  expense  acct8  of  the  Commissioners  from  New 

York  and  Pennsylvania  in  running  the  Jurisdiction  Line £669„16„  3 

“Abraham  Hardenbergh’s  wages  as  Surveyor  from  the  12  June  1786 

to  the  2d  Nov.  144  days  at  24 s.  per  Day 172,,16„  0 

“ John  Thorntons  wages  as  Commissary  from  the  18  June  to  the  28 

October,  4 months  & 10  days,  @ £12  per  month 52, ,00,,  0 

“ 2 Horsemans  & 2 Soldiers  Tents  30,,  5,, — 

“Medicine 4,,  4„  9 


929,,  2,, — 

“ Simeon  DeWitt’s  wages  as  Commissioner  from  the  6 July  to  the  28 
Octr.  115  days  and  15  days  going  to  Philadelphia  returning  and 
procuring  the  necessaries  last  Spring,  in  the  whole  130  days  at  40s. 


per  day 260,,  0,,  0 

“Expense  to  Philadelphia  lately 61,,  4,,  1 

“James  Clintons  wages  as  Commissioner 

“ N.  B.  General  Clinton  not  being  in  town  and  the  precise  number  of 
days  he  served  not  known  his  charge  for  wages  is  left  blank. 

“ Cr.  By  Cash  from  the  Treasury £100, ,00, ,00 


“ Account  of  Articles  purchased  and  Incidental  Expenses  for  running  the  Juris- 
diction Line  between  the  States  of  New  York  & Pennsylvania  by  the  Commis- 
sioners of  New  York ” * * * 

Then  follows  a long  list  of  bills  for  supplies  and  transportation  itemized  in 
detail,  amounting  to  £326, ,16, ,10.  Among  the  items  of  supplies  were  5£  barrels 
(32  gallons  each)  of  Rum,  2 barrels  of  Spirits  and  a half  barrel  of  Brandy. 

“ General  Clintons  expense  acc1”  amounted  to  £46„12„1.  This  included  the  trav- 
eling expenses  of  8 men. 


No.  71.] 


79 


The  provisions  and  expences  were  by  mutual  agreement  made  a 
common  Charge  by  which  I am  persuaded  they  have  come  lower 
than  otherwise  they  would  have  done.  The  Commissioners  of  Penn- 
sylvania are  directed  by  the  Executive  Council  to  enter  again  on  the 
business  as  soon  as  the  season  will  admit.  They  are  preparing  ac- 
cordingly to  commence  by  the  first  of  June  and  expect  the  coopera- 
tion of  this  State. 

“ Enclosed  is  likewise  an  Estimate  delivered  by  them  of  the  prin- 
cipal necessaries  that  will  be  required  for  the  ensuing  season  which 
it  is  supposed  will  finish  the  Line.  The  remoteness  of  the  place 
from  the  inhabited  Country  and  the  difficulty  of  transporting  heavy 
articles  through  the  Wilderness  will  make  this  seasons  work  more 
expensive  than  the  last  and  a sufficient  supply  of  money  will  be 
wanted  for  the  purpose.  The  duties  of  my  office  will  not  permit  me 
to  leave  it  this  summer  it  will  therefore  become  necessary  to  have 
some  other  Gentleman  appointed  in  my  room  as  a Commissioner. 

“ I shall  only  farther  observe  that  Pennsylvania  has  a Purveyor 
appointed  to  purchase  the  Stores  superintend  the  Conveyance  of 
them  and  have  every  necessary  in  order  so  that  the  Commissioners 


“Mr.  DeWitts  Expence  Bill”  was £18-3-9 

“ Cap1  Hardenberghs  Expenses  ” 5-4-1 


“ The  mens  account  at  8 Dollars  per  month 

Thomas  King,  from  June  6 to  Nov.  1,  4 months,  24  days £15-  7-4 

M.  D. 


Mathew  Dennison 12 

David  Clark Do 

B.  Carney Do 

J.  Patterson Do 

Geo.  Taylor Do 

Andrew  Gault Do 

A.  Hains Do 

Jno.  Belknap Do 

De  Bosworth Do 

Js  Morrow Do 

Eleazer  Church Do 

George  Church Do 

Robert  Shannon Do 

John  Wemp Do 

Andrew  Thompson Do 


Do  Blacksmith’s  work 


Oct.  23 

4 

12 

14-  1-6 

Do 

4 

12 

14-  1-6 

Do 

4 

12 

14-  1-6 

Do 

4 

12 

14-  1-6 

Do 

4 

12 

14-  1-6 

Do 

4 

12 

14-  1-6 

14 

4 

3 

13-  2-6 

Nov.  15 

5 

3 

16-  6-6 

Oct.  28 

4 

lOimi  13-17-4 

Do 

4 

10 

13-17-4 

Do 

4 

8 

13-13— 

Do 

4 

8 

13-13 — 

Do 

4 

8 

18-13 — 

Do 

4 

8 

13-13 — 

Do 

4 

8 

13-13— 
1-  4— 

226-  9-0 

“ Deduct  4 mens  wages  for  22  days  in  Yr  service 9-  7-9 


217-  1-3 

“ Hendrick  Wemp’s  wages  as  interpreter  from  June  25  to  October  28 

at  10  Dollars  per  month  4 months  & 2 Days 16-  8-0 

“ Moses  DeWitts  wages  as  an  additional  Surveyor  from  the  9th  August 

to  22d  October,  75  days  at  2 Dollars  per  day 60-  0-0 

“ Two  pack-horses  & Bridles,  &c 13-  10 — 


“£704-  6-1” 

From  this  account  it  seems  that  New  York  paid  upon  the  cost  of  surveying  the 
first  90  miles  of  the  Line  (not  including  Gen.  Clinton’s  “ wages”)  $4,750.27. 


80 


[Senate 


have  no  time  to  loose  from  their  peculiar  employment  by  making 
the  previous  arrangements  and  continually  attending  to  them.  Tiiis 
I mention  in  order  that  it  may  be  considered  whether  a similar  ap- 
pointment with  us  would  not  be  productive  of  (Economy.”  * 

In  consequence  of  Mr.  De  Witt’s  f inability  to  act  as  Commis- 
sioner, the  New  York  Legislature,  21  April,  1787,  passed  an  Act 
supplementary  to  the  act  of  March  7,  1785,  which  provided,  “ That 
it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Person  administring  the  Government  of  the 
State  for  the  Time  being,  by  and  with  the  Advice  of  the  Council 
of  Appointment,  to  appoint  and  commission  under  the  Great  Seal 
of  this  State,  one  or  more  Commissioners  to  continue  the  running 
ont,  marking  and  ascertaining  the  Line  of  Jurisdiction  between  this 
State  and  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  Loom  of 
such  of  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  virtue  of  the  Act  entitled, 
An  Act  for  running  out  and  marking  the  Jurisdiction  Line  be- 
tween this  State  and  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  as  shall 
have  resigned,  declined  the  office,  be  sick  or  unable  to  attend  the 
same.  And  that  the  Commissioners  so  appointed  or  such  two , and 
not  more  than  three  of  them  as  the  Commissioners  of  the  Land 
Office  shall  direct,  are  hereby  authorized  on  the  Part  of  this  State 
to  meet  such  Person  or  Persons,  who  may  have  been  or  shall  be 
authorized  and  appointed  on  the  Part  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania  aforesaid.”  X 

Under  this  law  William  W.  Morris  was  appointed  commissioner 
in  Mr.  De  Witt’s  place,  3 May,  1787,  and  Abraham  Ilardenbergh 
was  designated  in  place  of  James  Clinton.  Capt.  Ilardenbergh 
had  been  the  surveyor  for  the  New  York  Commissioners  the  pre- 
vious year. 

April  6,  1787,  Mr.  Ellicott  wrote  as  follows  upon  the  preparations 
necessary  to  be  made  for  the  summer’s  work  to  Mr.  Biddle : 

“ I have  arranged  my  affairs  in  this  state,  and  intend  setting  out 
for  Philadelphia  on  the  last  of  this  month  to  assist  in  making  such 
preparations  as  may  be  thought  necessary  to  compleat  the  northern 

* Clinton  Papers,  MbS.,  xxi,  5841. 

j-  Simeon  De  Witt  was  born  in  Ulster  county,  New  York,  25  December,  1756 
He  received  a fine  education  at  Queens  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1776.  He  joined  the  army  under  Gen.  Gates  and  was  present  at  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne.  He  was  Assistant  Geographer  of  the  United  States  army  from 
1778  to  1780  and  Geographer-in-Chief  to  1783,  and  was  with  the  army  at  the  sur- 
render of  Cornwallis.  He  was  appointed  Surveyor-General  of  New  York  13 
May  and  held  the  position  until  his  death.  During  his  service  most  of  the  lands 
in  the  northern  and  western  portions  of  the  State  were  laid  out  under  his  direc- 
tion. Among  these  lands  was  the  Military  Tract,  to  the  townships  of  which  Mr. 
De  Witt  gave  the  names  of  classical  military  heroes.  On  1796  Mr.  De  Witt  was 
offered  the  position  of  Surveyor-General  of  the  United  States,  but  declined  it. 
He  was  appointed  a Regent  of  the  University  13  March,  1798,  was  chosen  Vice 
Chancellor  of  the  University  3 February,  1817,  and  Chancellor  24  March,  1829. 
He  published  a fine  map  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1804;  and  prepared  a very 
detailed  atlas  of  the  State,  showing  the  land  subdivisions  in  each  county,  which 
was  published  in  1829.  Mr.  De  Witt  was  a member  of  many  literary  and  scien- 
tific societies.  He  died  at  Ithaca,  3 December,  1834. 

X Laws  of  1787,  chap.  ciii. 


No.  71.] 


81 


boundary  this  ensuing  summer.  In  the  mean  time  it  may  be  ad- 
visable for  Mr.  William  Armstrong  to  procure  tlie  pack-IIorses  that 
may  be  wanting,  and  make  the  other  preparations  for  conveying  our 
Instruments,  &c.,  to  Middletown.  From  that  Gentleman’s  exertions 
last  season,  I am  induced  to  place  much  confidence  in  him  this. 
The  Seneca  Chiefs  who  attend  on  behalf  of  their  nation,  will  expect 
two  rifled  Guns,  I remember  speaking  to  you  on  this  subject  last 
fall.”  * 

And  again  upon  16  April,  “ This  day  two  weeks  I shall  set  out 
for  Philadelphia  to  attend  on  the  northern  boundary,  and  do  think  it 
highly  necessary  that  everything  should  be  done  by  the  commissary 
that  we  may  be  enabled  to  set  out  for  Middle  Town  by  the  7th  day  of 
May  next.  I have  procured  Horses  for  myself,  in  consequence  of 
which  I have  been  under  the  necessity  of  drawing  upon  Mr.  Ritten- 
house  for  the  sum  of  sixty  pounds,  which  I desire  you  would  instruct 
him  to  pay ; the  draught  is  at  sixteen  days  sight,  and  therefore  not 
payable  ’till  after  I shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  in  Phila- 
delphia.” f 

The  final  Report  of  the  commissioners  signed  by  Messrs.  Ellicott, 
Porter,  Harden bergh,  and  Morris,  is  as  follows: 

“We  the  subscribers  being  commissioned  agreeably  to  Laws  sever- 
ally enacted  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  state  of 
New  York  for  the  purpose  of  running  and  marking  a Boundary 
Line  between  the  said  States  in  the  parallel  of  Forty-Two  Degrees 
of  North  Latitude  beginning  at  the  River  Delaware  and  extending 
to  a meridian  Line  drawn  from  the  SouthWest  Corner  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Pennsylvania. 

“ Have  in  conformity  to  our  appointments  extended  the  said  Line 
from  the  ninetieth  Mile  Stone  to  Lake  Erie,  and  marked  the  same 
in  a lasting  and  permanent  manner  by  Milestones -or  posts  surro^mded 
by  mounds  of  earth  where  stones  could  not  be  procured.  The 
Stones  at  the  several  points  where  Latitude  was  determined  are 
large  and  well  marked,  and  contain  on  the  south  side  Pennsylvania 
Latitude  42°  N.  1787,  also  the  variation  of  the  magnetic  needle. 
On  the  North  side  New  York  and  their  several  distances  from  the 
River  Delaware. 

“ Witness  our  Hands  and  Seals  this  Twenty  ninth  day  of  October, 
One  Thousand  seven  Hundred  and  Eighty  seven.”  \ 

This  report  was  transmitted  to  Gov.  Clinton  by  the  New  Yoak 
commissioners  with  the  following  letter  dated  24  Dec.,  1787 : 

“ W e have  the  honor  of  herewith  transmitting  to  your  Excellency 
the  Joint  Report  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  State  of  New  York 
and  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  respectively  appointed,  to 
‘run  out  and  mark  the  Jurisdiction  Line’  between  those  States; 
together  with  a Geographical  Map§  of  the  Line  and  Country  adja- 

* Penn.  Arch.,  xi,  134,  135.  \ Penn.  Arch.,  xi,  526. 

f Idem,  xi,  140. 

^Portfolio  Maps  No.  167  and  202  in  office  of  Secretary  of  State  Albany.  Also 
Penn.  Arch.,  xi. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  11 


[Senate 


cent ; as  also  an  account  of  the  Expenditures  which  this  State  has 
incurred  in  the  prosecution  of  the  business  the  last  season  — We 
trust  that  on  an  accurate  Inspection  of  this  account  it  will  appear 
that  it  has  been  coinpleated  with  as  much  (Economy  as  could  have 
been  expected  from  the  distance  at  which  the  business  commenced 
and  the  Expences  which  necessarily  attend  extensive  Land  Transpor- 
tation, especially  through  a wilderness — 

“ The  delineations  on  the  Map  have  been  done  with  as  much  ac- 
curacy, as  attention  to  the  Observatory  and  other  matters  more  im- 
mediately relative  to  the  Line  would  admit  of,  and  no  part  of  the 
Country  has  been  laid  down  thereon  but  what  has  either  undergone 
actual  Measurement  or  Observation. 

“ Throughout  the  whole  of  this  business  the  Line  has  been  deter- 
mined at  distances  of  not  more  than  Thirty  two  nor  less  than  Twenty 
miles,  by  Latitude  deduced  from  a course  of  Astronomical  Observa- 
tions with  a Sector  of  upwards  of  Five  feet  Radius  accurately  con- 
structed for  the  purpose,  on  Six  principal  Stars  the  places  of  which 
are  well  ascertained,  and  no  Observation  has  been  taken  into  the 
Account  which  differs  materially  more  than  four  seconds  from  a 
mean  of  the  other  Observations  at  the  same  position  — 

“ Thus  prepared,  and  from  having  constantly  observed  those  pre- 
cautions we  are  encouraged  to  assure  your  Excellency  that  no  error 
of  more  than  half  a Second  of  a Degree  equal  to  Fifty  and  an  half 
Feet  could  possibly  have  been  committed  at  the  Points  where  the 
Latitude  was  so  determined.” 

Commissioner  Porter  f thus  briefly  announced  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Executive  Council  the  completion  of  the  boundary  from 
Philadelphia,  28  November. 

“ I have  the  pleasure  to  inform  Council  that  we  have  compleated 
the  Northern  boundary  Line  of  this  State ; Enclosed  you  have  our 
Report.  A Draught  of  the  Line  will  be  compleated  in  a few  weeks 
& delivered  to  Council.” 

Andrew  Ellicott,  19  Dec.,  in  that  year,  addressed  the  Executive 
Council  of  Pennsylvania,  as  follows : 

* Clinton  MSS.,  xxi,  5924. 

f Gen.  Andrew  Porter’s  father,  Robert  Porter,  emigrated  to  America  from 
Ireland  in  1720,  and  settled  in  the  present  Worcester  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Penn.  Hon.  Andrew  Porter,  one  of  his  nine  sons,  was  born  24  Sept.,  1743. 
He  early  showed  a taste  for  mathematics,  and  although  apprenticed  as  a carpenter, 
his  father  determined  on  fitting  him  for  the  occupation  of  schoolmaster.  Becom- 
ing acquainted  with  Dr.  Rittenhouse,  the  latter  was  so  satisfied  with  young  Por- 
ter’s attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  move  to  Philadelphia  and  open  a mathe- 
matical school,  which  he  did  in  the  spring  of  1767.  He  conducted  the  school  with 
success  until  1776,  when  he  suspended  it  to  enter  the  service  of  his  country.  He 
had  10  March,  1767,  married  Elizabeth  McDowell,  by  whom  he  had  five  children. 
She  died  9 April,  1773,  and  20  May  he  married  Elizabeth  Parker  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children.  In  1776,  19  June,  Congress  commissioned  him  captain  of  marines. 
He  was  soon  after  transferred  to  the  artillery  as  captain.  In  1782  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  majority  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Artillery  in  place  of  Major  Eust- 
ace, whom  he  had  killed  in  a duel.  Eustace  had  grossly  insulted  him  and  was  chal- 
lenged. The  duel  took  place  18  April,  1781,  and  Eustace  was  killed  instantly. 
Capt.  Porter  was  tried  by  court-martial  and  acquitted,  and  the  Supreme  Executive 


No.  71.] 


83 


“ Having  been  concerned  in  running  all  the  Astronomical  Bounda- 
ries of  the  Commonwealth,  and  possessed  of  all  the  observations, 
(which  are  very  numerous)  used  in  determining  the  different  limits 
of  the  State.  In  my  opinion  now  the  business  is  compleated,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  have  some  record,  or  rather  a publication  of  the 
Observations,  together  with  the  methods  that  were  pursued  on  that 
occasion ; not  only  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  parties  concerned,  but 
also  for  the  advantages  which  the  science  of  Astronomy  may  derive 
from  such  a publication.  I shall  be  happy  in  having  a conference 
with  any  Gentlemen  of  your  Body  on  this  subject,  and  have  no 
doubt  but  it  may  be  made  advantageous  both  to  the  State  and  to 
your  H’bl  Servt., 

“ AND’ W.  ELLICOTT. 

“P.  S.  I will  undertake  arranging  the  Astronomical  Observa- 
tions by  which  the  boundaries  of  the  State  were  determined,  and 
also  add  such  Observations  as  we  have  made  on  the  Soil  and  Natural 
History  of  the  country  thro’  which  we  passed,  for  the  sum  of  £150, 
hard  Money,  or  the  value  thereof  in  Paper,  one  half  of  the  money 
to  be  advanced,  and  the  other  half  to  be  paid  when  the  work  is 
finished  — the  work  to  be  the  property  of  the  State,  and  ready  for 
publication  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  June  next.”* 

An  economical  spirit  doubtless  pervaded  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council  at  that  date,  and  that  Mr.  Ellicott  was  not  encouraged  to 
carry  out  his  intention  of  putting  his  observations  on  paper  for  the 
benefit  of  the  public  as  no  document  of  the  kind  has  ever  been  found, 
among  the  archives  of  Pennsylvania,  or  among  his  private  papers. 

In  the  year  1866  the  late  Dr.  Pratt  endeavored,  by  extended  cor- 
respondence with  government  and  State  officials  and  descendants  of 
Mr.  Ellicott,  to  ascertain  if  any  of  his  notes  or  memoranda  relating 
to  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  boundary  (more  especially 
relating  to  the  Meridian  Boundary)  were  in  existence.  The 
researches  were  in  a great  measure  fruitless.  The  correspondence 
on  the  subject  is  given  in  full  in  volume  I of  the  Regents’  Bound- 

Council  of  Pennsylvania  immediately  promoted  him  with  rank  from  the  day  after 
the  dueL  He  was  afterward  promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel,  and  colonel  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment,  which  rank  he  held  when  the  army  was  disbanded.  He  was 
attached  to  Gen.  James  Clinton’s  brigade,  and  accompanied  him  in  his  descent  of 
the  Susquehanna  river  to  join  Sullivan  in  1779.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
retired  to  his  farm,  and  in  1784  was  engaged  as  commissary  with  the  commission 
for  extending  Mason  and  Dixon’s  line;  and  in  1785-6  was  a commissioner  for  run- 
ning the  western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1787  he  acted  in  the  same  capac- 
ity upon  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  boundary.  In  1800  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  commissioners  to  settle  the  controversies  between  the  Connecticut  set- 
tlers and  Pennsylvania  claimants  in  Luzerne  county,  but  resigned  soon  after.  The 
same  year  he  was  commissioned  brigadier-generai  of  Pennsylvania  militia,  and 
shortly  afterward  was  promoted  to  major-general.  April,  1809,  he  was  appointed 
Surveyor-General  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  position  he  served  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  at  Harrisburg  16  Nov.,  1813.  Porter’s  Journal,  kept  while 
engaged  in  the  survey  of  the  western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  is  printed  in  No. 
3,  vol.  iv  of  the  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  History. 

^ Penn,  Arch.,  si,  316. 


84 


[Senate 


ary  Report,  pages  316-329.  In  one  of  the  letters  from  Mr.  John 
A.  McAllister  of  Philadelphia,  occurs  the  following  statement: 
“lam  under  the  impression  that  some  of  the  papers  of  Andrew 
Ellicott  were  in  the  possession  of  the  late  Peter  S.  Du  Ponceau,  for 
many  years  President  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society.  Mr. 
D.  died  in  this  city  in  1844  — his  papers  became  the  property  of  his 
son-in-law,  Garesche,  and  after  his  decease  passed  into  the  hands  of 
a daughter  of  the  latter,  who  contrary  to  my  urgent  wishes,  sold  the 
greater  part  of  them  to  a rag  dealer.  I managed  to  secure  a few  of 
them,  & Mr.  Kline  our  Autograph  dealer  also  some.  Mr.  D.  was  a 
great  collector  of  Maps,  Surveys  & other  documents  relating  to 
lands  in  your  State.  His  position  as  Secretary  to  Mr.  Livingston,  & 
as  an  attorney  for  foreigners  residing  here  or  abroad,  gave  him  an 
opportunity  for  gathering  together  material  of  that  character.  Mr. 
D.  may  have  presented  some  of  these  matters  to  the  ‘ American 
Philosophical  Society.’  ” 

Hon.  J.  C.  G.  Kennedy,  a grandson  of  Mr.  Ellicott,  says : “Andw 
Ellicott  always  preserved  remarkably  full  notes  of  all  his  services.” 
We  can  only  infer  that  the  cupidity  of  a thoughtless  woman  induced 
her  to  barter  away  a mass  of  invaluable  memoranda,  to  increase  her 
stock  of  tinware.* 

Details  of  Operations  and  Incidents  in  1786-7. 

Were  such  a report  as  he  proposed  to  make  to  the  Executive  Coun- 
cil to  be  found,  it  would  unquestionably  furnish  us  a much  better 
idea  of  the  methods  employed  and  instruments  used  by  the  original 
surveyors  in  running  this  line. 

Almost  the  only  information  on  the  subject  is  contained  in  a com- 
munication addressed  2 April,  1795,  to  Robert  Patterson,  by  Mr.  Elli- 
cott. This  paper  is  preserved  in  the  Transactions  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society, f and  opens  with  this  brief  introductory  sen- 
tence : “ I herewith  present  you  with  a considerable  number  of  Astro- 
nomical Observations, which,  you  will  observe,  were  generally  made  on 
some  very  important  occasions.”  Then  follow  several  pages  relating 
to  the  extension  of  the  southern  line  of  Pennsylvania,  and  running 
the  western  line  of  that  State,  giving  all  the  astronomical  observa- 
tions taken  for  the  purpose  of  determining  the  positions  of  these 
lines,  and  especially  the  position  of  the  south-west  corner  of  the 
State. 

He  then  remarks,  in  a preliminary  way,  “ The  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  42°  of  north  latitude.  This 
line  extends  from  a point  on  the  Delaware,  (which  was  fixed  by  Dr. 
Rittenhouse  and  Capt.  Holland  in  the  year  1774,)  and  extends  west 
to  Lake  Erie.  It  was  completed  in  the  years  1786  and  1787.  In 
order  to  carry  on  the  parallel  of  latitude  with  as  much  expedition 

* See  note  on  this  subject  under  the  head  of  “ Original  Surveys”  on  the  Merid- 
ian Boundary. 

f Trans.  (1st  Series),  iv,  39. 


No.  71.] 


85 


and  economy  as  possible,  we  dispensed  with  the  method  of  tracing 
a line  on  an  arc  of  a great  circle,  and  correcting  into  a parallel,  as 
pursued  by  Messrs.  Mason  and  Dixon,  in  determining  the  boundary 
between  this  state,  and  the  state  of  Maryland,  and  which  we  fol- 
lowed in  completing  their  line  in  the  year  1784.  We  commenced 
our  operations  by  running  a guide  line  west,  with  a surveying  com- 
pass from  the  point  mentioned  on  the  Delaware  20J  miles,  and 
there  corrected  by  the  following  zenith  distances  taken  at  its  western 
termination  by  a most  excellent  sector,  constructed,  and  executed,  by 
Dr.  Rittenhouse,”  and  follows  with  detailed  notes  of  observations 
and  results  along  the  entire  Parallel  Boundary.  Nothing  farther  is 
said  of  the  methods  employed  or  the  instruments  used.  So  far  as  it 
relates  to  this  Boundary,  the  letter  presents  simply  a mass  of  astro- 
nomical data.  By  the  dates  given  in  the  letter  and  the  meager  con- 
temporary information  which  has  been  obtained,  we  are  able  to  trace 
the  original  commissioners  in  their  progress  upon  the  line. 

The  first  run  of  20J  [20-J]  miles  brought  them  to  the  right  bank 
of  the  Susquehanna  below  Great  Bend,  in  the  latter  part  of  July, 
1786.  They  were  engaged  at  this  point  upon  astronomical  observa- 
tions, which  are  given  in  full  in  the  letter,  from  21  July  to  5 Au- 
gust.* The  results  from  these  observations  showed  that  they  were 
7".  3,  or  738  feet,  too  far  south.  The  correction  was  made  and  the 
First  Latitude  Stone,  which  was  marked  “ 20  M 29  eh,  Var  3°  32' 
West,”  was  set  to  mark  the  point.  “ The  guide  line  was  corrected 
back  to  the  Delaware,”  in  what  manner  is  unknown.  It  was  prob- 
ably done  by  measuring  computed  offsets  from  the  mile  points  in 
their  random  line  and  setting  the  milestones  at  the  new  points  thus 
fixed.  It  is  hardly  probable  that  they  undertook  to  re-run  any  of 
the  intervals  between  their  correction  stations. 

It  was  from  this  station,  on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna,  that 
Mr.  Ellicott  wrote  as  follows  to  his  wife,  under  date  of  6 August, 
1786,  “at  10  o’clock  at  night : ” — 

“ My  dear,  Being  determined  to  omit  no  opportunity  of  writing 
to  you,  I now  embrace  one  with  pleasure,  nay  with  more 
than  pleasure,  because  it  recalls  to  my  mind  the  happiness  I 
enjoy  when  at  Home  in  my  domestic  situation  — I have 
just  returned  from  attending  divine  service  of  the  Indians  in  their 
camp  — This  will  appear  no  doubt  strange  to  you,  but  stranger 
yet  when  I assure  you  that  I have  found  more  true  religion  and 
Christianity  among  them,  than  with  the  white  inhabitants  on  the 
frontier ; they  are  of  the  church  of  England  and  have  the  service 
complete  in  their  own  Language —they  sing  psalms  to  admiration; 
much  superior  to  the  Dutch  Methodists  in  Baltimore.  Pray  do  not 
fail  informing  our  friend  Dr.  West  of  this  circumstance — The  In- 

*In  a foot-note  Mr.  Ellicott  here  remarks:  “ At  this  Station  a number  of  obser- 
vations were  rejected,  on  account  of  their  disagreement,  which  we  fortunately 
discovered  was  owing  to  the  atmosphere  being  affected  by  the  numerous  fires  we 
kept  up  to  keep  off  the  flies,  musketoes,  and  gnats,  which  are  very  troublesome 
in  that  part  of  the  Country.” 


86 


[Senate 


dian  town  of  Shanang*  is  about  12  miles  from  our  present  position. 
The  head  Sachem  with  his  family  have  been  with  us  many  days  — 
he  has  a daughter  by  the  name  of  Sally  and  a niece  who  lives  with 
us,  and  share  in  all  our  amusements  such  as  cards,  and  draughts, 
commonly  called  checkards — Commissioner  DeWitt  has  taken  a pic- 
ture of  the  daughter  which  I intend  to  have  coppied  large  by  Billy 
West — So  much  at  present  on  account  of  the  Indians  — our  busi- 
ness goes  on  very  well  — the  New  York  Commissioners  are  agreeable 
and  judicious  gentlemen,  which  contributes  not  a little  to  render  our 
situation  as  agreeable  as  could  be  expected — but  as  agreeable  as 
they  are  I nevertheless  dread  the  departure  of  my  good  friend  Mr. 
Rittenhouse  whose  abilities  and  industry  give  me  much  leisure  at 
present  — but  as  great  as  his  abilities  and  industry  may  be,  his  other 
qualities  still  go  beyond  them  — We  have  our  health  very  well  but  I 
have  frequently  found  the  gout  troublesome,  and  without  ever  com- 
plaining quietly  submit  to  almost  daily  attacks — I am  so  very  busy 
with  the  stars  this  night  that  I neither  have  time  to  coppy  this  or 
even  read  it  after  it  is  written  — many  particulars  I shall  write  when 
Mr.  Rittenhouse  returns.  Pray  remember  me  to  my  good  friends  in 
Baltimore  — and  believe  me  with  devout  prayers  for  your  welfare 
and  the  health  of  little  ones  to  be,  Your  affectionate  & Loving 
Husband. 

“ AND’W  ELLICOTT.”f 

Dr.  Rittenhouse  also  wrote  a long  letter  to  his  wife  from  this 
point  upon  the  same  date,  from  which  wTe  extract  the  following : 

“ It  is  six  long  weeks  since  I have  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  you 
or  hearing  from  you ; and  this  is  the  first  opportunity  I have  had 
of  conveying  a letter  to  you,  since  I left  Wyoming.  As  I cannot 
hope  to  receive  a line  from  you  until  we  approach  nearer  to  the  habit- 
able world,  my  next  greatest  pleasure  is  to  inform  you  of  the  favour- 
able state  of  my  health;  this  pleasure  is  indeed  damped  in  some  de- 
gree, by  my  fears  that  you  will  not  give  full  credit  to  what  I say, 
though  I mean  to  bide  strictly  by  the  truth.  The  liead-ach  has  been 
unknown  to  me,  almost  ever  since  I left  you ; my  cough,  though 
much  better  is  not  quite  removed  ; and  I have  no  other  complaint, 
except  that  which  will  never  leave  me  in  this  world : this,  however, 
far  from  being  worse  than  usual,  is  certainly  something  less  trouble- 
some ; which  I attribute  to  my  being  more  at  liberty  to  use  mode- 
rate exercise,  and  less  exposed  to  summer  heats  than  I should  be  at 
home.  This  seems  to  be  a different  climate  from  that  you  are  in  ; the 
weather  is  constantly  cool,  but  not  cold.  We  are  at  present  situated 
on  a pleasant  bank  of  the  Susquehanna,  about  fifteen  miles  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Chenango,  one  of  the  principal  branches  of  this  river. 
From  this  place  to  Middletown  in  Lancaster  county,  is,  by  estima- 

* This  town  was  upon  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Binghamton.  It  is  desig- 
nated “ Otsiningoo  ” on  Guy  Johnson’s  map  1768,  and  “Ofewingo”  on  Evans’ 
map  1755.  Dr.  Rittenhouse  spells  it  “Chenango.” 

f Regents’  Rep’t  on  Boundaries,  i,  262. 


No.  71.] 


87 


tion,  270  miles  along  the  river:  much  of  the  road  is  very  bad,  so 
that  we  had  a tedious  journey. 

u At  Chenango,  there  are  a few  Indian  families  settled,  amount- 
ing to  forty  souls.  Some  of  these  people  frequently  visit  us,  and 
bring  us  fish  and  venison  ; in  return  for  which,  they  are  very 
desirous  to  have  flour  or  salted  provisions : and  we  live  in  the  greatest 
harmony  with  them.  Five  or  six  days  ago,  one  of  the  Onondaga 
Sachems  with  his  family  came  up  in  three  canoes,  and  encamped  in 
the  evening,  just  below  us.  Next  morning,  we  received  a message 
from  them,  requesting  an  audience  for  two  young  ladies  of  the 
family.  To  this,  a proper  answer  was  returned  (General  Clinton 
having  prudently  brought  an  interpreter  with  him,)  and  at  the  time 
appointed  they  were  introduced  to  us  in  our  tent  unattended  by  any 
other  Indians.  After  a draught  of  punch,  and  a decent  silence,  our 
visitors  were  told  that  we  were  ready  to  hear  what  they  had  to  say. 
The  eldest  of  the  two,  a fine  girl  of  about  twenty,  and  extremely 
well  dressed,  with  a becoming  modesty  made  a short  speech ; con- 
cluding with  an  handsome  apology  for  acquitting  herself  no  better, 
on  account  of  her  youth  and  sex.  The  purport/  of  her  speech  was, 
that  thinking  it  wrould  not  be  disagreeable  to  us,  they  were  come  to 
spend  a few  days  in  our  company  : that  they  were  poor,  and  in  want 
of  provisions,  especially  flour ; and  hoped  we  would  furnish  them 
with  a small  portion  of  our  stores, — at  least  for  present  use,  whilst 
they  staid  with  us.  We  encouraged  them  to  bring  us  fish  and  other 
fresh  provision ; in  return  for  which,  they  should  have  salt  meat  and 
some  bread.  Business  being  over,  some  cheerful  conversation 
ensued  : and  we  had  reason  to  think  our  interpreter  went  much 
further  than  he  was  warranted  to  do  ; for  he  made  some  proposition 
which  the  young  lady  negatived  strongly,  though  we  are  ignorant  of 
what  it  was.  He  was  then  bid  to  assure  them,  that  no  insult  should 
be  offered,  and  that  they  might  visit  us  at  our  tents  whenever  they 
pleased : to  this  one  gentleman  added,  that  we  would  treat  them  as 
we  would  our  own  country  women. 

“ It  seems  the  old  interpreter  mistook  the  word  treaty  and  con- 
strued it,  the  giving  them  victual  and  drink  : in  consequence  of  this 
mistake,  the  ladies  expected  to  dine  with  us  every  day.  They  then 
departed,  seeming  well  satisfied  ; but  in  the  afternoon  we  received  a 
message  from  them,  complaining  that  we  had  already  broken  the 
treatjq  in  not  sending  for  them  to  dinner.  To  this  we  sent  a verbal 
answer,  with  an  apology,  and  letting  the  ladies  know  wre  should 
expect  them  to  tea.  To  my  great  surprise,  we  then  received  a writ- 
ten note,  thanking  us  for  our  kindness  and  promising  to  drink  tea 
with  us, — signed,  Jacowe  and  Sally : it  was  in  the  Indian  language, 
and  written  by  Miss  Sally  herself.  We  now  thought  it  our  duty  to 
return  a written  compliment  likewise ; and  this  intercourse  ended 
with  a verbal  message  from  Miss  Sail}7,  assuring  us,  that  she 
thought  herself  honoured  by  our  letter  and  would  carefully  preserve 
it.  The  ladies  did  not  fail  to  come;  and  have  drank  tea  every  day, 


88 


[Senate 


and  sometimes  dined  with  us.  They  are  cheerful  and  agreeable ; but 
cannot,  or  will  not,  speak  one  word  of  English.  Mr.  De  Witt 
draws  prettily,  and  is  taking  a very  good  picture  of  the  young  princess, 
which  I hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of  shewing  you  in  a few  weeks. 
I have  mentioned  their  writing , which  you  will  be  surprised  at : but 
these  Indians  are  in  some  measure  civilized  ; many  of  them  have 
learned  to  read ; — they  have  the  Common  Prayer  Book  of  the 
Church  printed  in  their  own  language  which  is  the  Mohawk.  The 
family  now  with  us  have  several  books  with  them ; likewise  paper, 
pens,  and  ink.  Every  evening,  the  females  jointly  sing  several 
religious  hymns,  and  their  music  is  at  least  equal  to  any  of  this  kind 
I have  heard : the  old  mistress  is  very  devout,  and  sometimes  says 
her  prayers  with  great  fervency.  They  are,  nevertheless,  still 
Indians;  and  Miss  Sally  will  sit,  with  all  her  finery  about  her,  flat  on| 
the  ground  for  hours  together,  under  a miserable  bark  shed,  makingl 
buckskin  shoes,  until  her  eyes  are  almost  smoked  blind  ; then  by  way 
of  relaxation,  she  and  her  cousin  will  step  into  a little  tottering 
canoe,  where,  standing  upright,  they  row  away  with  incredible 
swiftness. 

“ You  will  excuse  me  for  entertaining  you  so  long  with  an  account 
of  these  poor  wretches.  But  your  news,  and  your  politics,  are 
almost  forgotten.  Still,  my  principal  happiness  is,  that  not  only 
waking  but  frequently  in  my  dreams,  I feel  all  that  esteem  and  af- 
fection for  you,  which  I hope  will  never  end.  My  companions  are 
agreeable  enough  ; but  as  every  one  has  his  own  humours,  it  is  by 
no  means  a desirable  thing  to  be  cooped  up  in  a little  tent,  night 
and  day,  for  weeks  together  with  any  one.  I want  something  to 
employ  my  leisure  hours.  This  I could  do  by  writing,  but  here  is 
no’privacy : I am  at  present  obliged  to  write  badly  and  in  a small 
hand,  to  prevent  its  being  overlooked.  I cannot  think  of  taking 
my  departure  for  Philadelphia,  until  we  approach  nearer  the  inhabited 
country ; our  next  station  but  one,  will  be  at  or  near  Tioga,  and 
from  thence  I shall  return.”  * 

From  the  First  Latitude  Stone  another  guide  line  was  started 
west,  probably  upon  the  bearing  deduced  from  the  new  variation 
observed  (3°  32').  This  terminated  upon  the  Apalachin  flats  in 
the  present  borough  of  Little  Meadows.  Here  upon  the  nights  of 
17  to  21  August,  they  were  engaged  upon  astronomical  work,  the 
results  from  -which  showed  their  observatory  to  have  been  7",  or 
708  feet,  too  far  south.  This  correction  was  made  and  the  Second 
Latitude  Stone  was  set.  Of  this  monument  no  vestige  now  remains. 
The  same  process  of  correcting  back  was  gone  through  with  and  a 
new  guide  line  was  started  upon  the  new  variation  (3°  40'),  which 
was  run  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Chemung  river  west  of  the  village 
of  Waverly,  N.  Y.  Here  the  results  of  their  observations,  which 
occupied  them  from  1 to  10  September,  showed  that  they  had  run 
3". 8 (384  feet)  too  far  north.  The  correction  was  made  and  the 


* Barton’s  Memoirs  of  Rittenhouse,  p.  241,  etc. 


No.  71.] 


89 


Third  Latitude  Stone  was  set.  The  remains  of  this  stone  were 
found  in  1877,  and  authenticated  by  the  testimony  of  parties  who 
had  seen  the  inscription  before  the  monument  was  broken  down. 
It  was  inscribed  “60  M 69  Ch.”  “ Var.  1°  50'.”  It  was  replaced  with 
a new  monument  in  1881.  Dr.  Rittenhouse  probably  left  the  party 
at  this  point. 

A new  random  line  was  started  west  from  this  monument  and 
was  run  for  a distance  of  nearly  29  miles  (the  preceding  intervals 
were  19  or  20  miles  each)  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Tioga  river  upon 
the  “ Coy  ease  Flats  ” * where  the  astronomical  results  showed  that 
they  had  run  too  far  south  by  4/. 8 (486  feet).  They  were  occupied 
with  their  astronomical  work  at  this  point  from  22  to  80  September. 
The  correction  was  made  and  the  Fourth  Latitude  Stone  inscribed 
“89  M.  53  Ch.”  “Var  2°  30'”  was  set.  This  is  not  now  to  be 
found,  having  been  washed  out  by  freshets  in  the  river.  At  mile- 
stone 90,  27  chains  west  of  this  monument,  the  commissioners  sus- 
pended operations  in  1786  and  went  home. 

It  is  upon  the  section  between  the  third  and  fourth  stations  that 
recent  observations  show  the  greatest  variation  from  the  astronomi- 
cal parallel  of  42  degrees.  At  “Station  Waverly”  the  third  lati- 
tude stone  (about  a mile  west  of  the  station)  was  found  in  1879  to 
be  144  feet  too  far  north,  and  at  “ Station  Lawrenceville  ” near  the 
site  of  the  terminal  station  of  1786,  the  error  was  but  120+  feet  to 
the  north.  The  line  between  in  the  reconnaissance  of  1877  was 
found  quite  convex  to  the  northward,  varyingin  the  center,  south  of 
the  city  of  Elmira,  nearly  1,000  feet  to  the  north. 

The  next  season  operations  were  resumed  11  June,  at  this  point, 
by  running  a random  line  west  about  19 J miles  to  the  valley  of 
Troup’s  Creek.  Here  again  were  observations  taken  for  correction 
occupying  them  from  19  to  29  June,  and  it  was  found  that  they  had 
run  12".4  (1255  feet)  too  far  north.  This  correction  was  made  and 
the  Fifth  Latitude  Stone  set  near  the  bank  of  the  creek.  This 
monument  was  marked  on  the  north  side. 

N.  YORK 
109  M & 36  ch. 
and  upon  the  south  side 

1787 

PENNSA 
Lat  42 

Var  1°  52'  Weft. 

It  was  undermined  and  broken  by  a freshet,  and  its  site  is  now 
occupied  by  the  bed  of  the  stream.  The  upper  part  of  the  monument 
was  found  some  forty  years  ago  and  set  up  in  the  line  fence  about 
800  feet  west  of  the  creek. 

While  re-subdividing  Township  1 of  Range  3 of  the  Phelps  and 
Gorham’s  Purchase,  W.  II.  Bull  at  one  point  came  upon  the  random 


*Ellicott  and  Porter  call  them  in  1787,  the  “ Cawwaniskee  Flats.” 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  12 


90 


[Senate 

line  of  the  original  survey  of  this  section  of  the  Boundary,  and  mis- 
took it  for  the  true  line.  He  made  this  memorandum  in  his  field- 
notes,  “ 30.90  marked  a Hemlock  tree  for  144,  145  on  the  old  pack 
horse  line  supposed  to  be  the  State  Line  through  mistake,  the  dis- 
tance to  the  Pennsylvania  line  would  be  36.54.”  This  was  between 
milestones  95  and  96. 

In  the  re-survey  of  Township  1,  Range  4 (Woodhull,  Steuben 
county),  in  1792,  Robert  James  made  the  following  “ Remarks  in  6th 
Mile  West  side  N°  1,  in  4 R.” 

“61 . 17  To  an  Hemlock  tree  marked  N°  1,  on  North  side  with 
these  figures  1789  blazed  on  the  E.  & W.  sides  also  blazed  on  S.  side 
three  hacks  cut  therein  the  former  Surveyor  had  made  his  corner 
here  supposing  it  to  be  the  Pennsylvania  line  but  he  was  Mistaken 
for  it  is  the  Random  line  to  the  Pennsylvania  line.” 

“76  To  the  Pennsya  line  marked  a stake  *****  one 
Mile  & 15  Chain  West'of  the  106  Milestone  in  the  Pennsylvania 
Line.” 

From  the  Fifth]Latitude  Stone,  a new  start  was  taken,  and  a random 
line  was  run  west  into  the  valley  of  Honeoye  creek,  or  as  it  was  then 
called,  “Owantandago  Branch,”  about  a mile  east  of  the  present 
Alma  post-office.  At  this  point  the  astronomical  results  from  obser- 
vations extending  from  7 to  19  J uly,  showed  that  they  had  run  too 
far  north  by  15",  or  1518  feet.  In  measuring  off  this  correction  to 
fix  the  place  for  the  Sixth  Latitude  Stone  the  distance  carried  them 
entirely  out  of  the  flats  upon  the  very  steep  slope  of  the  mountain. 
Here  a very  substantial  slab  of  sandstone  was  set  up  which  still 
remains  intact.  It  is  plainly  marked  on  the  north  side : 

NEW  YORK 
136  M 50  Ch. 

and  on  the  south  side  ANIA 

PENNSYLY 
Lat  42° 

Yar  0°  45'  W.  1787. 

In  1792,  while  running  the  west  line  of  Township  1 of  Range  5 
of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase  from  the  north,  Thomas  Davis 
“ Came  to  a Random  line  and  stake  set  up  ” 5.25  chains  north  of  the 
boundary,  between  milestones  116  and  117  ; the  distance  shows  this 
to  have  undoubtedly  been  the  random  line  run  west  from  the  Fifth 
Latitude  Stone. 

Their  next  run  took  them  to  the  Tuna  valley ; and  a very  random 
run  it  must  have  been,  for  when  they  had  concluded  their  astro 
nomical  observations,  which  occupied  them  from  7 to  16  August,  they 
found  themselves  32".5,  or  3290  feet,  too  far  south.  This  correction 
was  made  and  the  Seventh  Latitude  Stone  set  upon  the  Tuna  flats,  a 
short  distance  west  of  the  Tunanguant  (“  Cheneonguaont  ”)  creek. 
It  is  a very  substantial  monument,  and  stands  firmly  and  undisturbed. 
It  is  inscribed  on  the  north  side. 

N YORK 

167  m & 8 ch. 


No.  71.] 

and  on  the  south  side 


91 


PENNSA  Lat  42 
Yar  1°  30'  W 1787 

In  correcting  back  to  the  starting  point  on  this  section,  owing  to 
the  exceedingly  rough  and  irregular  country  over  which  the  long  off- 
sets were  measured,  the  irregularities  in  the  random  line  were  un- 
doubtedly reproduced  in  the  final  line,  with  variations.  The  section 
between  the  sixth  and  seventh  latitude  monuments  embraces  the 
most  irregular  portion  of  the  Boundary.  The  main  cause  of  the  enor- 
mous error  in  running  their  random  line  here  is  probably  an  erro- 
neous variation  of  the  needle  at  the  Sixth  Latitude  Stone,  where  by 
some  local  fault,  their  magnetic  results  were  about  one  degree  too 
small.  This  is  inferred  from  the  fact  that  at  the  Fifth  Latitude  Stone, 
the  variation  was  found  to  be  1°  52'  and  at  the  seventh  1°  30'.  The 
mean  declination  would  have  reduced  the  error  to  a little  more  than 
700  feet. 

From  the  Tuna  valley  to  the  banks  of  the  Kiantone  creek  their 
next  run  carried  them.  Here,  a short  distance  from  the  small  Indian 
town  of  “Kyenthono,”  they  fixed  their  observatory  and  spent  the 
time  from  25  August  to  9 September  in  astronomical  work  and  found 
that  they  had  run  21". 3 (2,156  feet)  too  far  north.  This  distance 
measured,  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  was  set  upon  the  bluff  south-east 
of  the  creek,  660  feet  west  of  milestone  195,  and  about  9,600  feet 
west  of  the  Conewango  river.  This  monument  stands  firmly  in 
place,  although  shattered  somewhat  by  a fallen  tree.  A small  slab 
split  from  the  south  side  is  now  in  the  State  Library  at  Albany. 
Sketch  No.  6 is  a portrait  of  this  stone.  The  variation  at  this  point 
was  “0°  55'  W.” 

While  at  this  station  Messrs.  Ellicott  and  Porter  addressed  the 
following  informal  report  of  progress  to  the  Pennsylvania  Council, 
dating  it  from  “ Observatory  on  the  west  side  of  Conawango, 
August  29th,  1787. 

“Gentlemen,  We  now  take  the  earliest  opportunity  we  have  had 
of  acquainting  you  with  the  progress  we  have  made  in  the  business 
which  you  have  intrusted  to  us.  We  arrived  at  the  Cawwaniskee 
Flats  on  the  11th  day  of  June,  where  the  90th  milestone  was  set-up 
last  season — The  Susquehannah  was  remarkably  low,  which  prevented 
our  Boats  making  the  necessary  expedition.  From  the  90th  mile- 
stone we  sent  our  instruments  up  the  Thyesa*  in  Canoes  about  10 
miles  ;f  our  water-carriage  then  failed,  and  we  had  recourse  to  our 
Pack-Horses,  but  the  ruggedness  of  the  country  at  the  Heads  of  the 
Susquehannah,  Geneseeo,  and  Allegany  Fivers,  soon  killed,  and  ren- 
dered useless  about  two-thirds,  but  fortunately  for  our  business,  when 
the  Horses  failed,  we  found  ourselves  on  a small  branch  of  the  Alle- 
gany River ; necessity  then  pointed  out  the  propriety  of  useing  water- 
carriage  as  much  as  possible,  we  immediately  set  about  making  ca- 
noes, and  by  the  spirited  exertions  of  our  men,  with  no  other  imple- 


* Now  called  Cowanesqua  river. 


\ To  Elkland,  Tioga  county,  Penn. 


92 


[Senate 


merits  than  three  falling  Axes,  two  or  three  Tomahawks,  and  a Chisel, 

Inch  wide,  we  had  compleated  in  six  days  for  the  use  of  our 
Pennsylvania  party  5 excellent  Canoes,  two  of  which  are  between  40 
and  50  feet  in  length.  These  Canoes  with  our  Stores,  Instruments, 
and  baggage,  we  hauled  10  miles  down  a shallow  stream*  to  the  main 
Allegany  River,  our  progress  now  began  to  appear  less  difficult,  and 
we  prepared  to  proceed  down  the  River  to  a proper  place  for  correct- 
ing the  random  Line  by  astronomical  observation,  but  the  day  pre- 
ceding our  intended  movement,  we  were  ordered  by  the  Indians  to 
discontinue  the  Line  ’till  after  a Treaty  should  be  held.  We  met 
them  at  the  time  and  place  appointed,  explained  the  nature  and  pro- 
priety of  the  business  we  were  about,  and  finally  permitted  to  pro- 
ceed. We  have  notwithstanding  these  difficulties,  compleated  the 
Line  to  the  167  mile-stone  from  the  Delaware,  and  expect  to  have 
28  miles  more  finished  in  a few  days,  and  the  fullest  expectation  of 
finishing  the  business  this  season  in  good  time,  if  not  impeded  by 
some  uncommon  difficulty  or  accident.”]* 

The  late  Judge  E.  T.  Foote,  who  was  for  sixty  years  a resident  of 
Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  in  a communication 
addressed  to  the  Regents  of  the  University  some  ten  years  since 
upon  the  subject  of  the  boundary  monuments  along  the  south  line  of 
that  county,  after  referring  to  this  subject  somewhat  in  detail,  says : 
“ I derived  from  Esq.,  [Isaiah]  Jones,  and  other  pioneer  settlers  of 
Warren  County  [Penn]  the  following  facts,  

“ Andrew  Ellicott,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Boundary  Commissioners,  laid 
out  the  present  beautiful  town  of  Warren  on  west  [north]  shore  of 
the  Allegany  river,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Conewango  river  about  ten 
miles  from  the  State  Line,  and  about  fifteen  miles  from  Seneca 
Chief  Cornplanter’s  residence.  This  was  about  eight  years  after  the 
State  Line  had  been  surveyed.  Mr.  Ellicott  and  his  assistants  re- 
lated to  the  pioneer  settlers  many  incidents  relative  to  making  the 
state  line  survey  and  the  erection  of  the  195  mile  stone  j;  and  other 
monuments  in  1787.  The  Commissioners  were  detained  at  the  loca- 
tion of  that  stone  in  August,  1787,  over  one  week  by  cloudy  rainy 
weather,  before  they  could  make  astronomical  Observations,  during 
which  they  prepared  that  monumental  stone,  more  elaborately  en- 
graved than  any  other  on  the  line  for  a long  distance. 

“ It  appeared  from  their  statement  that  while  Seneca  Chief  Corn- 
planter,  who  resided  on  the  west  shore  of  the  Allegany  River  near 
the  State  Line,  was  friendly  and  peacefully  disposed  to  the  Survey- 
ors, yet  many  of  his  young  warriors  evidently  had  strong  sympathy 
with  the  western  tribes,  and  they  boldly  objected  to  surveying  the 
State  Line  as  an  intrusion  on  their  lands,  and  would  not  permit  the 
Commissioners  to  proceed  and  demanded  a council  relative  to  the 
Survey  on  their  lands.  They  assembled  and  the  Commissioners 
met  them.§  Cornplanter,  while  he  tenaciously  claimed  that  the  land 

*The  Oswayo  river.  f Penn.  Arch.,  xi,  178. 

± He  refers  to  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  at  195  1-8  miles. 

See  the  letter  of  Ellicott  and  Porter  quoted  supra. 


No.  71.] 


93 


belonged  to  the  Indians,  still  favored  the  peaceful  object  of  the  Com- 
missioners, merely  to  mark  a boundary  line  of  jurisdiction  between 
two  States  friendly  to  them,  and  which  in  no  manner  changed  the 
title  to  the  lands. 

“ The  Indian  warriors  dissented  and  the  Commissioners  became 
convinced  they  could  not  peaceably  proceed  without  obtaining  their 
assent,  and  resorted  to  giving  them  a present  of  rum,  which  led  to 
the  peaceful  assent  to  proceeding  with  the  survey.  The  concurrence 
of  the.  Indians  was  not  only  necessary  to  protect  the  surveying  party 
from  danger,  but  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  the  line  monuments 
by  them 

“ Again  the  Commissioners’  supplies  of  provisions  brought  with 
them  were  mostly  hard  bread,  flour,  and  salted  or  dried  meats.  Not 
only  their  appetites  but  their  health  required  fresh  provisions,  which 
the  Indians  would  furnish  for  rum  when  not  for  silver.  They  thus 
obtained  from  the  Indians,  fresh  venison  and  other  wild  meats,  tur- 
keys and  other  wild  fowl,  fresh  fish,  honey,  green  corn,  and  beans. 
And  for  like  compensation  the  Indians  would  transport  heavy  loads 
of  baggage  on  their  backs,  greatly  relieving  the  Surveyors  hands  in 
the  transportation  of  supplies  and  heavy  baggage,  as  their  pack-horses 
had  failed.” 

Running  west  from  this  point  the  next  station  was  upon  the 
French  Creek  Flats  within  the  limits  of  the  present  village  of 
Wattsburg,  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  between  milestones  227  and 
228  and  about  three  miles  west  of  the  present  south-west  corner  of 
New  York.  Here  their  astronomical  results  from  observations 
extending  from  21  September  to  2 October,  proved  them  too  far 
north  by  lO"^  (1093  feet).  The  correction  monument,  if  one  were 
set,  was  doubtless  washed  away  by  freshets  in  the  creek,  as  no  monu- 
ment has  ever  been  found  at  this  point.  The  variation  here  was 


Their  next  run  hr  1 J ,1  ‘ Jl  sir  last  observa- 


observations  here  occupied  from  9 to  20  October,  and  they  found 
that  they  wrere  l". 3 (131  feet)  too  far  south.  The  variation  noted 
October  20,  1787,  was  0°  07'  West. 

From  this  point  Messrs.  Ellicott  and  Porter  addressed  the  follow- 
ing letter  to  Mr.  Rittenhouse  under  date  of  October  12 : 

“We  arrived  here  on  the  8th,  and  the  same  day  began  our  course 
of  observations,  which  will  probably  be  completed  in  5 or  6 days. 
The  random  Line  passed  between  Le  Beauf  and  Presque  Isle  about 
5 miles  north  of  the  former,  and  we  conjecture  about  6 miles  south 
of  the  latter.  Considering  the  unexpected  difficulties  we  had  to  en- 
counter for  want  of  a competent  knowledge  of  the  Geography  of  the 
Country,  the  death  of  our  Horses,  time  taken  up  in  making  Canoes, 
and  treating  with  the  Indians,  our  business  has  gone  on  beyond  our 
most  sanguine  expectation,  and  without  the  intervention  of  some 
uncommon  circumstance  or  accident  will  be  compleated  in  14  or  15 


0°  32'  W. 


tory  on  the  banks 


chains.  Their 


94 


[Senate 


days.  We  divided  the  Line  in  such  a manner  as  to  make  6 stations 
at  each  of  which  we  determined  a point  in  the  parallel  of  Latitude 
l>3r  about  36  observations.  Neither  attention  or  exertions  have  ever 
been  wanting  on  our  parts  towards  Scientific  and  permanent  comple- 
tion of  the  business  entrusted  to  us,  and  the  general  behaviour  and 
industry  of  our  men  has  been  such  as  to  entitle  them  to  our 
thanks.”* 

The  stars  used  in  their  operations  were  : a Lyrse,  a Cygni,  Capella, 
y Andromeda,  /3  Medusae  and  6 Cygni.  Mr.  Ellieott  in  his  com- 
munication gives  in  detail  the  notes  taken  at  each  astronomical  sta- 
tion, with  the  final  results  of  the  computations,  and  says  at  the  end, 
“ I have  omitted  the  calculations,  and  given  only  the  results,  for  the 
following  reasons,  first  they  would  have  swelled  the  paper  to  a great 
length,  secondly  no  difficulty  can  arise  in  making  them  to  any  person 
moderately  acquainted  with  practical  Astronomy.” 

Mr.  Ellieott  concludes  this  record  of  the  astronomical  observations 
upon  this  boundary  with  the  following  words : 

u The  above  correction  being  made,  completed  the  Astronomical 
boundaries  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

“ My  associates  in  tracing  the  north  boundary  of  Pennsylvania 
were  Dr.  Rittenliouse,  James  Clinton,  and  Simeon  De  Wit,  in  the 
year  1786.  The  first  of  those  gentlemen  left  us  in  the  beginning  of 
September.  The  year  following  my  associates  were  Andrew  Porter, 
Abraham  Hardenberg,  and  William  Morris.” 

The  remainder  of  the  paper  is  taken  up  with  an  account  of  the 
survey  of  the  outlines  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  the  survey 
of  Washington  city,  with  frequent  notes  of  astronomical  observa- 
tions connected  therewith. 

To  show  how  much  greater  pains  were  taken  to  secure  accuracy 
in  running  the  outline  of  the  District,  than  were  observed  in  tracing 
the  line  between  two  great  States,  the  farther  quotation  from  the 
paper  is  made, — “ These  lines  were  measured  with  a chain  which 
was  examined  and  corrected  daily,  and  plumbed  whenever  the 
ground  was  uneven,  and  traced  with  a transit  and  equal  altitude  in- 
strument which  I constructed  and  used  in  running  the  western 
Boundary  of  the  State  of  New  York.  This  instrument  was  similar 
to  that  described  by  M.  Le  Monnier  in  his  preface  to  the  French 
Histoire  Celeste ; except  in  being  accommodated  to  a firm  portable 
triangular  frame.  The  transit  and  equal  altitude  instrument  is  of 
all  others  the  most  perfect,  and  best  calculated  for  running  straight 
lines,  and  when  the  different  verifications  are  carefully  attended  to, 
may  be  considered  as  absolutely  perfect.” 

From  the  meager  details  contained  in  the  few  letters  and  brief  re- 
ports, it  seems  that  the  commissioners,  in  1787,  were  quite  expedi- 
tious in  their  progress,  notwithstanding  all  the  drawbacks  and  delays 
occasioned  by  the  loss  of  pack-horses  and  interference  of  the  aborig- 
ines. Perhaps  the  too  active  interest  taken  in  their  operations  by  the 


*Penn.  Arch.,  xi,  204. 


No.  71.] 


95 


sons  of  the  forest  acted  as  an  inducement  for  haste  in  their  move- 
ments upon  some  portions  of  the  line.  They  were  in  the  field  from 
11  June  to  29  October,  and  ran  and  marked  169J  miles  of  bound- 
ary, besides  spending  so  much  time  at  six  observatory  stations  in  as- 
tronomical work  for  latitude. 

As  a pendent  to  this  account  of  the  technical  work  of  the  com- 
missioners, their  commissary,  William  Armstrong,  addressed  to  the 
Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania  as  follows,  under  date 
of  16  February,  1788  : — 

“ Gentlemen,  Agreeable  to  the  request  of  your  Honorable  Board 
I have  looked  over  some  of  my  notes  Taken  when  out  on  the  line 
last  summer  & find  that  after  we  Cross’d  the  Alligane  river  the  last 
time,  there  was  much  of  a sameness  in  the  Country  both  as  to  Tim- 
ber & Soile  on  and  near  the  line  and  a greater  Variety  of  Wood  on 
the  same  space  then  I ever  saw  in  any  other  part,  a large  Proportion 
of  which  was  Beach,  Sugar  maple  & ash,  The  soile  in  general 
appears  rich  tho’  I believe  rather  Cold  for  some  kind  of  grane,  But 
well  adapted  to  grass.  The  Country  in  general  is  midling  Flat  and 
level  but  more  Particularly  so  on  the  heads  or  sorces  of  the  small 
stremes,  that  Emty  into  the  alligani  river,  all  the  waters  running 
into  the  Lake  having  a better  Current  & shorter  distence  to  run. 
The  high  dry  grounds  have  moderate  ascents  and  appear  Pleasant  & 
very  few  stone  to  be  seen  on  the  surface,  the  waters  of  French  Creek 
and  the  Connowonge  both  afford  a good  Boat  Navigation  to  within 
a small  distance  of  the  Lake.  I could  not  see  that  at  and  near  the 
Lake  it  was  more  subject  to  Early  frosts  than  many  parts  much  more 
to  the  southward.  I am  of  opinion  that  it  is  Equal  in  value  to  any 
Equel  Quantity  of  land  on  the  West  side  of  the  alligane  river  within 
the  lines  of  the  state,  according  to  Information  we  Receiv’d  from 
(Capt.  Wm.  Morris  one  of  the  Commissioners  from  the  state  of 
New  York)  that  the  line  of  session  from  New  York  to  the  United 
States  would  strike  the  line  of  our  State  at  or  near  the  190  mile 
stone.*  Tho’  that  is  but  matter  of  opinion  founded  on  his  Infor- 
mation at  any  rate  we  shall  Include  a large  part  of  the  Margen  of 
the  Lake  with  the  only  harber  on  it  which  is  Priquelle.”f 

It  will  be  interesting  also  to  know  that  David  Rittenhouse,  3 De- 
cember, 1788,  was  voted  by  the  Council  of  Pennsylvania  “ two  hun- 
dred and  eighty-one  pounds,  twelve  shillings  and  six  pence  in  full 
of  his  account  for  his  services  as  a Commissioner  in  running  and 
marking  the  northern  boundary  of  this  State  and  for  several  mathe- 
matical instruments  purchased  to  enable  him  and  the  other  Commis- 
sioners to  perform  said  work.”]; 

The  New  York  commissioners  were  allowed  for  their  services  by 
the  Legislature,  in  the  appropriation  bills,  forty  shillings  per  day. 

After  settling  with  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  Commissioner  "Por- 

* The  intersection  of  the  two  lines  is  actually  a short  distance  east  from  the 
225  mile  point. 

fPeun.  Arch.,  xi,  242-3.  JPenn.  Col.  Kec,,  xv,  614. 


96 


[Senate 


ter  was  sued  for  the  value  of  a horse  purchased  for  the  use  of  the 
commissioners,  which  died  in  the  service.  The  matter  was  brought 
before  the  Council,  and,  upon  the  recommendation  of  a committee, 
it  was  “ Resolved  that  an  order  be  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in 
favor  of  said  Colonel  Andrew  Porter  for  the  said  sum  of  twenty 
four  pounds,  twelve  shillings  four  pence  agreeably  to  the  Comp- 
troller General’s  report.”* 

In  the  account  current  of  New  York  with  Gerard  Bancker,  treas- 
urer, we  find  the  following  entries  : 

£ s.  d. 

1786.  To  Cash,  to  the  Pennsylvania  Line  Commis- 
sioners  1000  0 0 

To  ditto  to  the  Pennsylvania  Line  Commission- 
ers   924  8 1 

1788.  To  Commissioners  for  running  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Line 2111  18  6 


Original  Monuments. 

The  rude  monuments  with  which  the  original  commissioners 
marked  the  Boundary  were  as  varied  in  their  size,  character  and  ap- 
pearance as  the  Boundary  itself  is  in  alignment  and  topography.  Of 
the  original  224:  milestones,  71  per  cent  were  found  during  the  recon- 
naissance, nearly  one-fourth  of  them  out  of  place,  and  many  of  them 
in  fragments  or  in  various  stages  of  dilapidation.  It  is  to  be  pre- 
sumed that  upon  the  western  half  of  the  line  where  so  many  vacant 
intervals  were  found,  that  at  some  points  were  set  “ posts  surrounded 
by  mounds  of  earth  where  stones  could  not  be  procured.”  Gener- 
ally the  appearance  of  the  old  monument  indicates  that  some  pains 
was  taken  in  its  selection.  A suitable  water-worn  stone  from  some 
neighboring  stream  or  a small  slab  split  out  of  some  convenient  flag- 
stone ledge,  was  obtained  and  rudely  marked  with  “ N.  Y.”  and  the 
number  of  miles  on  one  side  and  “ P.”  on  the  other.  Others  were 
of  an  inferior  and  shaly  texture.  In  some  cases  this  may  be  the 
result  of  the  action  of  fire  in  the  woods.  A few  were  quite  regu- 
lar in  shape,  many  very  irregular,  and  in  some  instances  a singu- 
larity of  outline  seems  to  have  been  the  guide  in  the  selection.  Most 
of  the  milestones  found  were  small  and  very  easily  handled.  Mile- 
stone 1 was  a block  of  sand  rock,  5 inches  thick,  from  7 to  17  inches 
in  width  aud  less  than  2 feet  in  length,  the  letters  well  cut,  and  aside 
from  its  length  was  a very  substantial  monument.  Milestone  208, 
the  most  westerly  monument  found,  was  a large,  rough,  irregular 
solid  slab,  3 or  4 inches  thick,  32  inches  long  and  16  inches  in 
width,  the  lower  half  tapering  to  a point  at  the  bottom  ; rudely  in- 
scribed. Milestone  90,  where  the  original  commissioners  suspended 
their  labors  for  the  season  in  1786,  is  a squarely-trimmed  slab  of  flag- 
stone, firmly  set  in  the  ground,  2 inches  thick,  19J  in  width,  and 


*Penn.  Col.  Rec.,xv,  644. 


No.  71.] 


97 


projecting  2 feet  above  the  surface.  No  two  of  them  are  alike  in 
size  or  appearance,  many  were  smaller  and  thinner  than  milestone  1. 
And  the  wonder  is  why  more  of  them  have  not  been  lost.  Most  of 
the  smaller  stones  were  apparently  set  in  shallow  excavations.  Two 
or  three  of  them  were  found  which  required  considerable  effort  to 
remove  when  the  new  monuments  were  ready  to  be  placed.  Others, 
from  their  peculiar  form,  as  in  the  case  of  208,  could  not  possibly 
have  remained  in  position  under  the  action  of  the  frosts  of  the  past 
hundred  years. 

The  Latitude  Stones,  set  at  the  points  where  the  original  commis- 
sioners corrected  their  position  by  astronomical  observations,  were 
uniformly  of  a more  substantial  character,  and  greater  pains  seem  to 
have  been  taken  in  trimming,  marking  and  setting  them.  The  Eighth 
Latitude  Stone  is  the  most  peculiar  in  shape.  Sketch  No.  5 gives  a 
fair  likeness  of  this  old  monument. 

Confirmation  by  Statute  ; Error  in  Revised  Statutes  of  New 

York. 

The  Boundary  thus  established  was  formally  confirmed  by  an  act 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature  passed  29  September,  1789.*  Sec- 
tion 1 of  this  act,  after  reciting  the  various  preliminary  legal  steps, 
including  the  proceedings  of  Rittenhouse  and  Holland  in  1774, 
goes  on  to  say  : “And  whereas  the  said  Andrew  Ellicot,  on  the  part 
of  this  commonwealth,  and  the  said  James  Clinton  and  Simeon  De- 
witt on  the  part  of  the  state  of  New-York,  did,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-six  and  seven,  in  pur- 
suance of  the  powers  so  as  aforesaid  vested  in  them,  run,  fix  and 
ascertain  the  said  boundary  line,  beginning  at  the  first  mentioned 
stone,  marked  as  is  herein  above  recited,  and  extending  thence  due 
west  by  a line  of  milestones,  marked  with  the  number  of  mile  and 
miles  which  each  stone  is  distantfrom  the  said  first  mentioned  stone, 
planted  in  the  said  small  island,  to  the  bank  of  Lake  Erie,  at  the 
distance  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine  miles  and  eighty-eight  perches 
from  the  said  first  mentioned  corner  stone ; and  the  said  commis- 
sioners did  accordingly  return  a draft  or  plot  of  the  said  line,  under 
their  hands,  to  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  this  common- 
wealth ; in  which  said  draft  or  plot  are  noted  and  laid  down  the  sev- 
eral principal  waters,  mountains,  and  other  remarkable  places, 
through  and  over  which  the  said  boundary  line  runs  ; which  said 
boundary  line  is  and  ought  to  be  forever  hereafter  deemed  and 
taken  as  the  true  boundary  of  territory  and  jurisdiction  between 
this  State  and  the  state  of  New-York,  so  far  as  the  State  of  New- 
York  is  bounded  thereby 

Section  2 provides:  “ That  the  said  boundary  line,  so  as  aforesaid 
run,  marked  and  returned,  by  the  said  Andrew  Ellicot,  commis- 
sioner on  the  part  of  this  state,  and  the  said  James  Clinton  and 
Simeon  Dewitt,  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  state  of  New- 

* Carey  and  Bioren’s  Laws  of  Penn.,  iii,  392-5. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  13 


98 


[Senate 


York,  beginning  at  the  first  mentioned  corner  stone,  planted  in  the 
said  small  island,  in  the  Mohawk  or  west  branch  of  Delaware  river, 
and  thence  extending  due  west,  by  the  marked  stones  aforesaid,  so 
far  westward  as  to  meet  the  meridian  line,  which  is  hereafter  to  be 
fixed  and  established  as  the  western  boundary  of  the  state  of  New- 
York,  shall  be,  and  forever  hereafter  shall  be  deemed  and 
taken  to  be,  and  is  here  by  declared  to  be,  the  true  and  just 
line  of  boundary  and  partition,  both  of  territory  and  juris- 
diction, between  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  state  of 
New- York;  and  that  this  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  doth  not, 
nor  at  any  time  hereafter  shall  or  will,  claim  to  have,  hold  or  exer- 
cise, any  right,  power  or  jurisdiction  in  or  over  the  soil  or  inhabit- 
ants dwelling  northward  of  the  said  line  hereby  established,  east- 
ward of  the  said  meridian  line,  or  western  boundary  of  New  York: 
Provided  always  nevertheless , That  nothing  in  this  act  shall  be 
deemed  to  bind  the  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  until  the  legis- 
lature of  New- York  shall  establish  and  confirm  the  said  boundary 
line  on  their  part,  as  fully  and  effectually  as  the  same  is  by  this  act 
established  and  confirmed.” 

It  would  seem  that  this  joint  boundary  line  was  not  thus  for- 
mally confirmed  by  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  and  no  action 
was  taken  by  the  Legislature  subsequent  to  the  joint  resolution  of 
1785,  so  far  as  now  appears,  until  the  adoption  of  the  Revised 
Statutes  in  1829. 

No  question,  however,  has  been  raised  as  to  the  legal  effect  of 
this  omission  upon  the  Boundary,  which  has  always  been  accepted  by 
the  authorities  of  both  States  as  a basis  for  land  surveys,  and  as  a 
line  of  jurisdiction. 

A description  of  the  boundaries  of  the  State  of  New  York  of 
which  this  line  forms  a part,  is  given  in  detail  in  section  1 of 
title  I,  chapter  I of  the  Revised  Statutes,*  and  the  adoption  of  the 
first  revision  in  1829  may  be  considered  a tacit  confirmation  of  the 
survey,  by  the  Legislature.  This  description,  so  far  as  it  relates  to 

the  Pennsylvania  Boundary,  is  as  follows,  “ to  the 

waters  of  Lake  Erie  ; then  westerly  through  the  same,  and  along 
the  said  line,”  [of  the  Treaty  of  Ghent]  “ until  intersected  by  a 
meridian  line  drawn  through  the  most  westerly  bent  or  inclination 
of  Lake  Ontario ; then  south  along  said  meridian  line  to  a monu- 
ment in  the  beginning  of  the  forty-third  degree  of  north  latitude, 
erected  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  by 
Abraham  Hardenburgh  and  William  W.  Morris,  commissioners  on 
the  *part  of  this  state,  and  Andrew  Ellicott  and  Andrew  Porter, 
commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  for  the 
purpose  of  marking  the  termination  of  the  line  of  jurisdiction  be- 
tween this  state  and  the  said  state  of  Pennsylvania ; then  east 
along  the  line  established  and  marked  by  the  said  last  mentioned 
commissioners  to  the  ninetieth  milestone  in  the  same  parallel  of 


* R.  S.  1st  Ed.  i,  61-5  ; also  Part  I of  each  edition  since. 


No.  71.] 


99 


latitude,  erected  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
six,  by  James  Clinton  and  Simeon  DeWitt,  commissioners  on  the 
part  of  this  State,  and  Andrew  Ellicott,  commissioner  on  the  part 
of  Pennsylvania,  which  said  ninetieth  milestone  stands  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  south  branch  of  the  Tioga  river  ; then  east  along  the 
line  established  and  marked  by  said  last  mentioned  commissioners, 
to  a stone  erected  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-four  on  a small  island  in  the  Delaware  river,  by  Samuel 
Holland  and  David  Pittenhouse,  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the 
colonies  of  New- York  and  Pennsylvania,  for  the  purpose  of  mark- 
ing the  beginning  of  the  forty-third  degree  of  north  latitude  ; then 
down  along  said  Delaware  river  to  a point  opposite  to  the  fork  or 
branch  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  stream  called  Mahackamack 
with  the  said  Delaware  river  in  the  latitude  of  forty-one  degrees 
twenty-one  minutes  and  thirty-seven  seconds  north.” 

In  the  description  above  quoted  occurs  an  error,  in  fact,  as  well  as 
historical,  which  is  unaccountable,  in  terminating  the  Meridian 
Boundary  at  “ a monument  in  the  beginning  of  the  forty-third 
degree  of  north  latitude,  erected  in  the  year”  1787  by  Hardenbergh 
and  Morris,  Ellicott  and  Porter,  “ for  t lie  purpose  of  marking  the 
termination  of  the  line  of  jurisdiction  between  this  state  and  the 
said  state  of  Pennsylvania.”  Deference  is  made  at  the  end  of  the 
description  in  each  edition  of  the  statutes  to  the  foot-note,  “ Com- 
piled from  documents  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State.”  The 
Meridian  Boundary  was  not  run  until  1790,  three  years  after  Ilar- 
denbergh  and  his  co-laborers  are  said  to  have  placed  this  monument. 
That  the  location  of  this  point  was  unknown  to  the  commissioners 
of  1787  is  evident  from  the  letter  of  William  Armstrong  quoted 
above,  and  also  the  text  of  section  2 of  the  confirming  act  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Legislature.  There  is  certainly  nothing  among  the 
archives  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  to  warrant  the  state- 
ment. The  compiler  seems  to  have  forgotten  that  the  commission 
of  1787  ran  their  line  through  on  the  parallel  to  the  lake  without 
regard  to  any  meridian  line  beyond  which  New  York  had  agreed  to 
surrender  jurisdiction. 

At  the  time  the  Parallel  Boundary  was  run  it  was  expected  that 
the  meridian  line  would  intersect  the  parallel  near  the  present  south- 
east corner  of  Chautauqua  county.  And  Pennsylvania  was  very 
much  disappointed  in  its  final  location,  which  reduced  the  actual  area 
of  the  land  acquired  to  about  one-fourth  its  estimated  area. 

The  original  revisers  of  1829  in  their  preliminary  report  accom- 
panying tne  chapter,  say  : “ It  will  be  perceived  that  the  Chapter 
commences  with  a particular  description  of  the  bounds  of  the  State. 
It  is  a singular  fact,  that  no  complete  account  of  the  bounds  of  the 
state,  as  now  established  and  claimed,  is  to  be  found  in  any  printed 
work  or  public  record.  It  was  thought,  that  a correct  description  of 
our  limits,  would  not  only  supply  an  important  desideratum,  but 
form  an  appropriate  introduction  to  the  provisions  for  maintaining 


100  [Senate 

the  jurisdiction  of  the  State,  and  to  the  description  of  its  civil  divis- 
ions, which  will  be  given  in  chapter  II. 

“ The  description  presented  has  been  compiled  with  great  care, 
from  authentic  materials,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Surveyor  Gen- 
eral, and  is  believed  to  be  correct.”  * 

And  in  the  original  note  subjoined  to  section  1, — “The  sources 
from  which  the  above  description  has  been  compiled,  are  generally 
indicated  in  the  description  itself : but  it  may  be  satisfactory  to  the 
legislature  to  receive  a more  particular  account  of  the  various  pro- 
ceedings by  which  our  boundaries  have  been  established,  than  could 
be  incorporated  in  the  Statute.” 


44  The  western  extremity  of  this  state  derived  its  present  boundary 
from  acession  made  to  the  United  States,  on  the  1st  of  March,  1781, f 
pursuant  a law  of  this  State  passed  on  the  19th  of  February,  1780, 
(Jones  & Yarick,  53)4  The  act  of  cession  and  other  proceedings 
may  be  found  in  the  journals  of  the  old  congress,  vol.  vii,  p.  43  to 
48.  On  referring  to  the  act  of  cession,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  line 
is  described  in  the  alternative ; and  that  the  ultimate  boundary  is 
made  to  depend  on  a contingency  which  could  not  be  determined 
without  actual  survey.  Such  a survey  was  afterward  made,  and  the 
line  adopted  in  the  above  description,  thereby  established. 

44  The  line  along  the  north  bounds  of  Pennsylvania  was  not  fully 
surveyed  until  after  the  revolution.  The  patent  to  William  Penn 
grants  all  the  territory  4 bounded  on  the  east  bv  Delaware  river,  from 
twelve  miles  distant  northward  of  Newcastle  town  unto  the  three 
and  fortieth  degree  of  northern  latitude ; ’ extending  westward  five 
degrees  of  longitude,  and  bounded  4 on  the  north  by  the  three  and 
fortieth  degree  of  latitude.’  In  the  year  1774,  lieutenant-governor 
Colden  appointed  Samuel  Holland,  and  governor  Penn  appointed 
David  Pittenhouse,  to  fix  the  beginning  of  the  43d  degree  of  north 
latitude  on  the  western  branch  of  the  Delaware,  and  to  proceed  west- 
ward as  far  as  the  season  would  permit,  along  the  beginning  of  said 
degree.” 


44  The  remainder  of  the  line  to  its  western  extremity,  was  run  and 
marked  in  the  following  year,”  [1787],  44  by  Abraham  Hardenburgh 
and  William  W.  Morris,  on  the  part  of  this  state,  and  Andrew  Ell i- 
cott  and  Andrew  Porter  for  Pennsylvania.  From  the  43d  degree  of 
latitude  to  the  New- Jersey  Line,  the  Delaware  river,  and  probably 
its  west  bank,  is  the  boundary.  As  it  is  possible  that  Pennsylvania 
may  dispute  our  right  to  the  whole  of  the  river,  the  above  description 
hereby  provides  that  the  line  shall  run  4 down  along  said  river? 
leaving  the  question,  if  it  shall  ever  arise,  to  be  settled  hereafter.”§ 

* R.  S.  2d  Ed.  (1836),  iii742l. 

f Regents’  Boundary  Report , i,  163—6.  See  historical  sketch  of  the  Meridian 
Boundary  in  this  report.  Also  Appendix  M. 

1 Idem,  i,  149-151. 

| R.  S.  2d  Ed.  (1836),  iii,  424-5. 


No.  71.] 


101 


The  revisers  thus  seem  to  have  found  nothing  to  indicate  by  whom 
or  when  the  monument  at  the  south-west  corner  of  New  York  was  set, 
but  it  is  probable  that  the  compiler  was  led  into  error  in  supplying  the 
missing  link  in  the  chain  of  evidence,  upon  the  presumption  that  as 
the  cession  was  made  as  early  as  1781,  the  survey  of  the  Meridian 
must  have  been  made  at  the  time  the  Parallel  Boundary  was  run.  No 
record  or  report  of  the  survey  of  the  Meridian  Boundary  having  ever 
been  found  in  the  proper  offices  at  Albany  or  elsewhere,  the  com- 
piler, doubtless,  took  it  for  granted  that  the  survey  of  this  line  was 
included  in  the  report  of  Hardenbergh  and  his  associates,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1787. 

Apropos  to  the  reference  of  the  revisers  to  the  line  through  the 
Delaware  river,  my  investigations  have  led  me  to  believe  that  they 
had  good  reason  to  be  in  doubt  as  to  the  status  of  that  portion  of 
the  boundary.  By  the  charter  to  the  Duke  of  York,  his  grant  was 
bounded  by  the  east  side  of  Delaware  bay,  no  reference  being  made 
to  the  river;  and  by  William  Penn’s  charter,  Pennsylvania  was 
bounded  “ East  bv  Delaware  River.”*  New  Jersey  under  the  grant 
to  Lord  Berkeley  “hath  upon  the  West  Delaware  Bay  or  River.” 
Strictly  speaking,  then,  the  title  to  the  river  appears  still  to  have 
continued  in  the  Crown  or  the  aborigines,  and  the  present  States 
have  only  a claim  to  it  by  occupation  and  possession,  the  actual  limit 
of  which  is  not  defined  in  any  treaty  or  law.  This  question  was 
raised  in  1783  between  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
settled  at  that  time  by  a joint  commission.  The  islands  and  land 
under  water  were  divided  between  the  States,  and  each  State  was  to 
u enjoy  and  exercise  a concurrent  jurisdiction  within  and  upon  the 
water.” 

We  have  now  a good  opportunity  to  adjust  the  remainder  of  the 
river  boundary  of  Pennsylvania  in  a similar  manner  and  thus  supply 
the  deficiency  discovered  by  the  revisers  of  the  New  York  statutes. 

Early  Land  Surveys  along  the  Boundary. 

Having  thus  given  in  detail  the  history  of  this  Boundary  and  of 
its  final  settlement  and  location,  we  will  now  refer  to  the  early  sur- 
veys of  lands  along  the  line,  which  were,  or  were  intended  to  be, 
based  upon  it.  The  unsatisfactory  condition  in  which  the  Boundary 
had  been  found  at  many  points  may  be  accounted  for  as  a con- 
sequence of  the  looseness  of  some  of  these  surveys. 

We  have  seen  that  at  each  extremity  of  the  Parallel  Boundary, 
surveys  had  been  made  and  the  line  approximately  fixed,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  two  years  before 
the  Boundary  was  officially  surveyed.  At  the  eastern  extremity, 
George  Palmer  having  run  a line  from  the  Delaware  to  the  Susque- 
hanna in  1784,  laid  out  warrants  based  upon  it,  in  1785,  reaching 
from  a point  east  of  milestone  2 nearly  to  7.f  The  first  one  of  these 

The  Indian  deed  to  the  Proprietaries  in  1768,  heretofore  quoted,  limits  them 
to  the  “ west  side.” 

f See  VI,  Appendix  G. 


102 


[Senate 


begins  at  the  “ Birch”  which  was  his  two-mile  tree,  and  which 
undoubtedly  was  identical  with  the  “yellow  Birch,”  the  remains  of 
which  were  identified  in  1877.  The  north-east  corner  warrant  in 
Pennsylvania  was  surveyed  by  Mr.  Palmer  in  October,  1786,  “ Be- 
ginning at  the  Stone  set  for  the  N.  E.  Corner  of  Pennsylvania.”  The 
two  intermediate  warrants  were  surveyed  in  1794  by  Anthony 
Crothers. 

West  of  the  warrants  surveyed  by  Palmer,  separated  from  them 
by  a narrow  warrant  of  recent  date,  are  four  warrants  which  although 
surveyed  in  1793,  there  seems  to  be  no  question,  were  also  based 
upon  the  Palmer  line.  These  warrants  formed  part  of  the  “Drinker 
Stamicca  Tract”  which  was  surveyed  and  re-subdivided  some  forty- 
five  years  ago  by  John  Boyle,  the  Palmer  line  being  then  taken  as 
the  north  line  of  the  tract.  A portion  of  this  line  was  held  to  the 
exclusion  of  New  York  proprietors  until  within  about  twenty  years. 

In  Henry  Drinker’s  Journal,  in  the  possession  of  the  Historical 
Society  of  Pennsylvania,  we  find  this  entry  relating  to  these  lands. 
“June  5,  1788,  went  out  with  John  Adlum  to  survey  some  land 
bounded  by  the  State  Line  & lies  between  Susquehanna  & Delaware. 
We  went  over  some  very  good  land  but  there  are  some  parts  of  it 
which  are  very  stoney.”  A very  accurate  description. 

Still  farther  west,  upon  the  west  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  near 
milestone  13,  the  warrant  of  Wilcox  Phillips  was  surveyed  in  Sep- 
tember, 1784.  Palmer’s  line,  run  in  June  of  that  year,  terminated 
...  upon  the  east  side  of  the  river,  and  this  warrant  was  in  another  sur- 
vey-district, but  it  is  quite  probable  that  the  deputy  surveyor  extended 
Palmer’s  line  west  and  based  his  survey  upon  it;  and  it  is  also  prob- 
able that  he  continued  the  line  west  to  the  second  intersection  of  the 
river,  as  all  the  warrants  adjoining  the  Boundary,  nine  in  number, 
were  surveyed  within  a week  after  the  Phillips  warrant. 

Thus  it  is  quite  apparent  that  most  of  the  early  Pennsylvania  land 
surveys  upon  the  eastern  twenty  miles  of  the  line  projected  beyond 
the  present  bounds  of  the  State.  The  survey  of  the  Hooper  2,000- 
acre  tract,  which  lies  a mile  and  a quarter  along  the  Boundary,  in 
each  direction  from  the  first  intersection  of  the  Susquehanna,  by 
General  Clinton,  at  the  time  he  was  engaged  in  running  the  line, 
probably  settled  the  title  at  that  point.  But  east  of  this,  we 
have  reason  to  believe  that  the  New  York  surveys,  of  several  small 
patents,  were  also  based  on  the  Palmer  line,  and  that  from  some 
cause  the  “milestone  line”  had  been  lost  sight  of  until  a compara- 
tively recent  period.  The  most  easterly  tract  upon  the  north  side  is 
John  Carpenter’s  Military  Location  surveyed  in  1796,  which  begins 
“on  the  west  side  of  the  Delaware  Biver  at  the  monument  erected 
for  the  north  bounds  of  Pennsylvania  ” and  runs  along  “ said  north 
bounds  a true  west  course”  150  chains.  Adjoining  this  upon  the 
west  is  the  Delaware  tract  which  was  subdivided  in  1820,  the  south- 
east corner  of  which  is  at  the  “yellow  birch  ” which  is  supposed  to 
be  George  Palmer’s  two-mile  tree.*  West  of  the  Delaware  Tract  is 


* No  tree  is  mentioned  in  the  survey  of  Carpenter’s  patent. 


No.  71.] 


103 


the  Edgar  patent,  granted  to  make  up  a deficiency  in  the  Edgar 
Tract  in  the  south-east  corner  of  Tioga  county,  New  York.  The  date 
of  the  surveys  upon  this  patent  is  unknown.  It  was  subdivided  by 
Stephen  Dexter,  who  made  no  note  of  any  milestones.  Adjoining 
it  upon  the  west  is  the  J.  Watts  deficiency  patent,  surveyed  in 
1811  ;*  beyond  this  the  Cooper  300-acre  tract  surveyed  in  1831; 
and  between  the  latter  and  Hooper  patent  before  referred  to,  is  the 
third  tract  in  Windsor,  subdivided  in  1819  by  William  Made# u re. 
Well-defined  corners  in  the  Watts  patent  have  been  identified  upon 
the  Palmer  line;  and  upon  the  third  tract  in  Windsor,  one  lot  near 
milestone  10  had  been  cleared  to  the  Palmer  line,  along  which  a 
stone  wall  had  been  built,  which  still  remained  at  the  time  of  the 
reconnaissance  in  1877.  Thus  there  is  apparently  a gore  of  land 
along  the  north  side  of  the  Boundary  for  more  than  ten  miles  which 
the  State  of  New  York  has  never  conveyed,  although  it  is  occupied 
at  many  points  by  adjacent  owners  on  the  north.  Between  the 
Hooper  patent  and  the  Bingham  patent,  at  the  second  intersection 
of  the  Susquehanna  river  lie,  the  First  Tract  in  Windsor,  which  was 
subdivided  by  William  Macclure  in  1819;  the  Nichols  Patent,  the 
south-east  corner  of  which  is  at  milestone  15,  granted  to  make  up  a 
deficiency  in  the  Nichols  Tract  in  Tioga  county ; and  a small  tract 
of  State  land  subdivided  in  1815  by  William  Macclure.  The  sur- 
veys of  these  tracts  so  far  as  is  known  were  based  upon  the  present 
Boundary.  Macclure  mentions  only  milestone  15  in  his  survey  of 
the  First  Tract,  at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  tract.  He  may  have 
run  at  random  for  the  State  line  as  he  did  for  the  east  and  west  lines 
of  the  tract,  as  they  were  found  to  interfere  with  the  tracts  east  and 
west  of  it.  In  1841  Eli  Nichols  was  sent  to  re-survey  the  east  tier  of 
lots  adjoining  the  Hooper  and  Garnsey  patents.  Instead  of  begin- 
ning at  the  State  line,  lie  commenced  at  the  north  end  nearly  three 
miles  from  the  Boundary  and  his  survey  carried  him  sixty  feet  south 
of  the  latter  when  he  reached  it.  The  south  end  of  the  Hooper, 
Wilson  and  Bingham  patent,  at  the  second  intersection  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna river,  was  a military  land  warrant  for  3,000  acres,  located 
and  laid  out  in  1775  for  John  Trotter,  a British  officer,  by  Robert 
Lettis  Hooper.  It  was  based  upon  a random  line  designated 
“Northern  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania  ” which  was  run  parallel  with 
the  north  line  of  the  tract  (the  cession  line  as  run  east  from  Owego, 
in  that  year,  by  Flooper).  At  this  point  this  random  line  was  prob- 
ably a little  north  of  the  present  boundary .f  This  particular  land 
warrant  wras  laid  out  100  chains  in  each  direction  along  this  line 
from  Snake  creek.  This,  and  a number  of  other  military  land 
warrants  laid  out  at  the  same  time  along  the  river  in  the  present 
county  of  Broome  were  all  assigned  to  Robert  L.  Hooper,  and  were 
consolidated  into  one  warrant  in  1785,  and  in  178G  were  patented  to 

* This  was  laid  out,  Wm.  Macclure  to  make  up  a deficiency  in  the  Watts  tract 
in  the  present  towns  of  Colesville,  Kirkwood  and  Windsor,  Broome  county. 

f See  sketch  No.  9 for  approximate  location  of  this  line. 


104 


[Senate 


Hooper,  Wilson  and  Bingham.  The  center  of  the  south  end  of  the 
consolidated  warrant,  upon  the  re-survey,  was  considerably  east  of 
Snake  creek.  The  subdivision  surveys  near  the  State  line  were 
made  by  Moses  B.  Cook  in  1796.  Between  the  second  and  third 
intersections  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  two  distinct  random  lines 
seem  to  have  been  run  before  the  State  line  was  officially  fixed,  that 
run  by  Robert  R.  Hooper,  mentioned  above,  the  other  probably  that 
shown  upon  George  Palmer’s  map.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  if  the 
Hooper  line  was  run  through  from  river  to  river. 

We  have  seen  that  a long  line  of  Pennsylvania  warrants  surveyed 
in  1784-6,  reaching  nearly  thirty  miles,  were  apparently  based  upon 
the  line  shown  upon  Palmer’s  sketch,  and  are  described  in  the 
returns  as  being  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  “ State  of  New 
York ; ” * while  a line  of  warrants  from  three-eighths  to  one-half  a 
mile  wide  had  since  been  surveyed  north  of  these.  In  the  Wap- 
pasening  Valley  near  milestones  50  and  51,  a warrant  granted  to 
William  Bradford,  9 May,  1774,  on  the  “ Waters  of  Mughcaango  or 
Red  Bank  Creek,”  f and  surveyed  in  August  of  that  year,  was 
found  to  project  some  distance  north  of  the  State  line;  and  a war- 
rant granted  to  Samuel  Morris,  Jr.,  the  same  date,  was  laid  out 
almost  entirely  in  New  York.  The  latter  warrant  was  afterward 
abandoned,  and  a new  one  was  issued  at  a more  recent  date,  covering 
the  narrow  strip  which  remained  in  Pennsylvania. 

Upon  the  New  York  side,  Robert  L.  Hooper  in  1774  laid  out 
adjoining  the  left  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  mainly  in  the 
present  town  of  Nichols  in  Tioga  county,  four  military  land  war- 
rants. The  warrant  for  Phineas  Atherton  was  based  upon  the  line 
designated  “Northern  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania,”  and  extended 
220  chains  along  it  east  from  the  river.  This  warrant  was  entirely 
south  of  the  present  State  line  ; a portion  of  one  or  two  others  pro- 
jected beyond  the  present  boundary  also.  These  tracts  were  con- 
veyed by  the  warrantees  by  deed  to  Hooper,;):  and  after  the  Revolu- 
tion the  portion  remaining  within  the  State  of  New  York  was 
subdivided  by  him. 

Between  these  military  locations  and  that  at  the  second  intersec- 
tion of  the  river  lie  two  towns] lips  of  the  “ Lands  purchased  by  the 
state  of  New  York  from  the  Oneyda  and  Tuscarora  Indians  ” at  the 
treaty  of  Fort  Herkimer  in  1785.  These  townships  were  laid  out 
upon  paper,  based  on  the  north,  east,  and  west,  upon  the  surveys  of 
the  Hooper  and  Coxe  patents,  which  separated  them  entirely  from 
the  remainder  of  the  purchase.  The  original  map  shows  the  town- 
ships cut  up  in  mile  sections,  but  they  were  sold  at  public  vendue  in 
17b6  in  four  tracts  each. 

* Three  or  four  of  this  tier  of  warrants,  in  Bradford  county,  surveyed  after  the 
present  State  line  was  run,  are  bounded  north  by  the  “ supposed  State  of  New 
York.” 

f In  the  return  of  survey  of  William  Butler’s  military  warrant  just  north  of  this 
in  New  York  this  stream  is  called  “ Wapascinning  or  White  Stone  Creek.” 

X Deed  Book  23,  Office  of  Secretary  of  State,  Albany,  pp.  294-5. 


No.  71.] 


105 


The  first  and  fourth  tracts  in  township  No.  6,  “ Sidney,”  were 
sold  to  Nicoll  Floyd;  the  third  tract  to  Nicholas  Fish,  by  whom  it 
was  assigned  to  Robert  Morris,  who  after  receiving  the  patent  con- 
veyed it  to  Judge  Cooper  of  Cooperstown.  Abijah  Hammond  took 
the  second  tract.  Between  his  patent  and  the  State  line  was  a gore 
apparently  not  included  in  his  purchase  : Edward  Suffern  of  Ramapo 
was  the  original  proprietor  of  this  gore,  a map  of  which  was  made 
in  1848  by  the  late  William  Wentz. 

In  township  No.  7,  “ Hambden,”  the  first  and  second  tracts,  in 
Tioga  county,  and  fourth  tract,  in  Broome  county,  were  sold  to 
Nicholas  Fish,  by  whom  the  certificate  was  transferred  to  Robert 
Morris,  who  received  the  patent.  These  three  tracts  afterward  came 
into  the  hands  of  Ilenry  Nichols,  and  have  since  been  known  as  the 
Nichols  Tract.  Gen.  Alexander  Macomb  took  the  third  tract,  in 
the  south-east  corner  of  Tioga  county,  which  was  afterward  known  as 
the  Edgar  Tract,  from  a subsequent  owner,  who  conveyed  it  in  1817 
to  James  Pumpelly,  by  whom  it  was  re-subdivided. 

When  Nichols  took  possession  of  his  purchase  and  commenced  his 
surveys,  he  found  that  his  three  tracts  would  extend  into  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  1810  he  called  the  attention  of  the  Commissioners  of 
the  Land  Office  to  the  matter.  Under  their  orders  William  Mac- 
clure  was  directed  by  Simeon  DeWitt,  the  Surveyor-General,  to 
examine  into  the  alleged  claims  for  deficiency.  Mr.  DeWitt’s  letters 
are  still  extant  among  Macclure’s  papers  in  the  hands  of  M.  R. 
Hulee,  Esq.,  of  Deposit.  From  Mr.  Macclure’s  notes  and  a sketch 
found  in  the  State  Engineer’s  office,  it  seems  he  found  that  by  the 
paper  surveys  upon  which  the  sales  were  made,  the  south  line  of  the 
townships  would  be  considerably  south  of  the  State  line,  and  not 
parallel  with  it.* * * § 

Surveyor-General  DeWitt,  in  a report  upon  the  application  of  John 
Watts,  for  compensation  for  deficiency  in  a patent  in  another  part  of 
the  Indian  purchase  says,  “The  Indian  Purchase  of  1785,  of  which 
this  tract  forms  a part  was  by  law  directed  to  be  divided  into  Town- 
ships and  Quarters  on  maps  only  without  actual  surveysf  and  thus  to 
be  sold ; to  provide  for  the  inaccuracies  which  would  necessarily 
result  from  such  an  uncertain  mode  of  procedure,  the  14th  Section  of 
the  32d  chapter  of  the  12th  Session  was  enacted  especially.”;):  In 

making  these  maps,  Hooper’s  location  of  the  boundary  in  his  sur- 
veys in  1774,  had  doubtless  been  accepted  as  authentic. 

The  first  and  second  tracts  in  Hambden,  owned  by  Henry  Nichols, 
were  found  deficient  about  3500  acres  in  consequence  of  this  inter- 
ference ; the  third  or  Edgar  Tract,  fell  short  over  1200  acres, § and 


* See  sketch  No.  10  for  approximate  location  of  this  line. 

f Section  2.  chapter  67,  Laws  of  1786.  Chapter  103,  Laws  of  1787,  was  passed 
to  correct  this  loose  method  ; meanwhile  the  Indian  purchase  had  been  sold  under 
the  former  law. 

\ Laws  of  1789.  The  Watts  Tract  in  the  south-east  part  of  Broome  county  was 
granted  as  an  equivalent  in  this  case.  DeWitt’s  reports,  as  well  as  all  the  pro- 
ceedings in  these  cases,  will  be  found  in  the  minutes  of  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Laud  Office. 

§ The  claim  for  deficiency  in  the  Edgar  Tract  was  not  made  until  1817. 

Minutes  of  L.  O.  No.  5,  p.  398. 


[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


14 


106 


[Senate 


the  fourth  tract  250  acres.  The  third  tract,  in  Sidney,  owned  by 
Judge  Cooper,  was  also  found  deficient  about  300  acres.  Lands  were 
granted  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  Broome  county  under  acts  of 
the  Legislature,  passed  5 April,  1810,  and  3 April,  1811,  and  Mac- 
clure  was  directed  to  survey  them.* 

No  claims  seem  to  have  ever  been  made  for  deficiencies  in  the 
remaining  three  tracts  in  Sidney.  The  interference  here  was  very 
much  less  than  along  the  township  of  Hambden. 

The  later  subdivision  surveys  of  most  of  these  tracts,  as  well  as 
those  of  the  Hooper  patent  west  of  them,  were  based  upon  the  State 
line,  and  the  milestones  were  generally  noted.  But  little  is  known 
of  the  details  of  these  re-surveys.  The  second  tract  in  Sidney  was 
surveyed  in  June,  1787,  by  Nicoll  Floyd. 

In  Pennsylvania,  west  of  the  third  intersection  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, in  the  last  purchase  from  the  Indians  in  1784,  the  surveys 
seem  to  have  been  carried  on  with  a little  more  system  than  in  the 
older  purchases. 

The  system  of  land  subdivision  in  vogue  in  Pennsylvania  is  at 
best  a crude  one.  Over  three-fourths  of  the  State  are  spread  tens 
of  thousands  of  detached  farm  surveys  practically  independent  of 
each  other.  A warrant  for  the  survey  of  each  parcel  has  been 
granted,  to  be  located,  possibly  at  the  option  of  the  warrantee,  upon 
any  unappropriated  land  belonging  to  the  Proprietaries,  to  be  sur- 
veyed by  the  deputy  surveyor  of  the  district.  The  returns  of  the 
surveys  of  these  detached  parcels  are  made  upon  separate  slips  of 
paper,  and  until  within  a few  years  the  only  records  of  the  land 
surveys  of  the  great  State  of  Pennsylvania  were  contained  in  these 
innumerable  slips,  many  of  them  nearly  worn  out  from  frequent 
examinations,  filed  away  in  bundles  in  the  pigeon-holes  of  the  Land 
Office.  Numerous  interferences  of  surveys  in  various  sections  of 
the  State  has  been  the  result  of  this  loose  system,  and  gores  of  un- 
appropriated land  have  frequently  been  found  between  warrants 
which,  from  the  records,  appear  to  join  each  other. 

As  an  instance,  Josiah  Lockhart  received  two  warrants  for  about 
1,100  acres,  each  dated  17  May,  1785.  These  were  located  and 
surveyed  by  William  Maclay  in  August,  1785,  a year  before 
the  State  line  was  run  and  the  returns  were  made.  They  extend 
nearly  four  miles  along  the  Boundary.  These  were  bounded  on 
the  north  by  the  “ Temporary  Line  of  York  State.”  The  west 
oue  of  these  embraced  the  Cowanesqua  Flats  upon  which  the  vil- 

* Mr.  DeWitt’s  letters  to  Macclure,  aside  from  the  business  in  hand,  are  quite 
interesting.  Among  other  things  which  he  discusses,  is  the  variation  of  the 
needle,  as  follows  : 

% “Concerning  the  daily  variation  of  the  magnetic  needle  all  we  know  is  that  it 
exists,  that  it  commences  in  the  forenoon  and  acquires  its  maximum  about  that 
time  in  the  afternoon  when  the  heat  of  the  day  is  greatest  and  after  that  diinin 
islies  till  at  night  it  becomes  nothing.  I have  observed  it  to  amount  to  a full 
quarter  of  a degree.  In  warm  weather  it  is  greater  than  when  the  weather  is 
cold.  Hence  it  is  supposed  that  the  cause  is  the  heat  of  the  sun  but  in  what 
manner  it  operates,  we  know  not.” 


No.  71.] 


107 


lage  of  Lawrenceville  stands.  William  Dewees  was  granted  upon 
the  same  day  a warrant  which  was  not  located  until  1792,  when  it 
was  laid  out  by  John  Adlum,  adjoining  the  Boundary,  beginning  at 
the  Fourth  Latitude  Stone  and  extending  west  over  the  Cowanesqua 
Flats,  entirely  within  the  west  Lockhart  warrant  and  embracing 
about  half  its  area.  A warrant  for  a re-survey  of  the  latter  was 
granted  in  1814,  which  covered  so  much  of  it  as  was  not  absorbed 
by  the  Dewees  warrant,  which  it  incloses  on  three  sides. 

The  older  warrants  generally  were  not  numbered,  and  to  find  the 
record  of  any  particular  parcel  of  land  is  a good  deal  like  looking 
for  a needle  in  a hay-stack. 

The  present  Secretary  of  Internal  Affairs,  under  whose  charge 
the  Land  Office  is  placed,  while  deputy  secretary,  a number  of  years 
ago,  succeeded  in  initiating  the  transfer  of  these  old  warrant  sur- 
veys from  detached  slips  to  record  books.  This  is  now  gradually 
being  accomplished,  and  in  a few  years  the  records  of  these  old  sur- 
veys will  be  in  better  shape  for  preservation  and  reference. 

In  the  last  Indian  purchase  (of  1784)  the  lands  of  the  Common- 
wealth were  surveyed  more  generally  in  large  blocks  of  warrants, 
although  the  return  of  each  individual  warrant  was  made  upon  a 
separate  slip  of  paper  as  formerly.  The  territory  was  divided  into 
districts  by  meridian  lines  based  upon  the  State  line,  and  these  dis- 
tricts were  assigned  to  various  deputies. 

In  the  purchase  of  1708,  which  embraced  the  eastern  portion  of 
the  Boundary,  Charles  Stewart  was  the  first  deputy  of  a district 
which  adjoined  it.  lie  was  appointed  in  March,  1769,  as 
deputy  of  that  part  of  the  purchase  west  of  the  dividing  ridge 
between  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna.  He  it  was  who  made 
the  detached  surveys  in  the  Wappasening  valley  before  the  Revolu- 
tion. George  Palmer,  in  1773,  was  appointed  deputy  for  Northamp- 
ton county,  which  then  embraced  the  present  county  of  Wayne. 
Palmer  was  continued  as  deputy  surveyor  more  than  fifty  years.  In 
1785  William  Gray  was  appointed  deputy  surveyor  for  Northumber- 
land county,  which  embraced  that  portion  of  the  Boundary  between 
Wayne  county  and  the  third  intersection  of  the  Susquehanna.  Gray 
surveyed  the  warrants  which  were  fictitiously  bounded  north  by  the 
“ State  of  New  York.”  He  also  laid  out  the  range  of  warrants  be- 
tween the  first  and  second  intersections  of  the  Susquehanna,  which 
encroached  on  New  York  territory.  In  1792  the  north  part  of  the 
districts  of  Gray  and  Palmer  was  placed  in  charge  of  deputy  surveyor 
Anthony  Crothers,  who  laid  out  the  warrants  in  Drinker’s  “Starrucca 
Tract,”  which  lapped  over  into  New  York. 

Returning  to  the  last  Indian  purchase.  William  Maclay*  and 
Thomas  Tucker  were  the  first  deputies  appointed  (early  in  1785). 
Maclay’s  district  extended  from  the  Susquehanna  river  to  a line 

* Maelay  was  one  of  tlie  commissioners  first  appointed  by  Pennsylvania  to  run 
a “ temporary  ” boundary  line  in  1783.  He  was  afterward  U.  S.  Senator  from 
Pennsylvania. 


108 


[Senate 

which  strikes  the  Boundary  west  of  milestone  97.  Tucker’s  dis- 
trict extended  from  this  to  a short  distance  west  of  milestone  108, 
the  present  east  line  of  Brookfield,  Tioga  county.  In  1792,  these 
districts  were  consolidated  and  John  Adlum  and  William  Ellis  were 
made  the  deputies  of  a district  (No.  1)  which  extended  from  the 
Susquehanna  river  to  milestone  115.* 

Maclay  surveyed  the  warrants  adjoining  the  Boundary  in  his  dis- 
trict as  far  west  as  milestone  66,  the  Same  year  the  Boundary  was 
run.  He  noted  the  milestones  and  the  Third  Latitude  Stone.  He 
also  laid  out  a warrant  in  that  year  in  each  of  the  valleys  of  Bent- 
ley creek  near  milestone  70,  and  of  Seely  creek  near  milestone  79. 
Two  warrants  surveyed  by  him  in  the  Tioga  valley  the  year  before 
the  Boundary  was  run,  and  the  temporary  line  run  by  him  across  the 
Susquehanna  and  Chemung  valleys  in  1784,  have  already  been  men- 
tioned. Very  few  of  the  warrants  along  the  Boundary  in  this  dis- 
trict were  surveyed  by  Adi  urn.  Tucker  surveyed  the  warrants  in  his 
district  along  the  Cowanesqua  river,  three  or  four  of  which  reached 
to  the  Boundary,  in  the  north-east  corner,  in  1785-6.  He  mentioned 
no  milestones,  although  one  of  his  warrants  corners  upon  102.  Wil- 
liam Ellis  surveyed  nearly  all  the  warrants  upon  the  sections  left 
vacant  by  Maclay  in  1793-4  reaching  from  milestone  70  to  77,  from 
79  to  beyond  87,  and  a long  gore  between  the  Cowanesqua  valley 
lots  and  the  State  line,  reaching  from  milestone  92  to  the  east  line  of 
Tucker’s  district.  He  also  laid  out  in  1794  all  the  warrants  from  a 
half  mile  west  of  milestone  100  to  108  with  the  exception  of  one 
laid  out  by  Tucker  in  1786.  Three  warrants  in  the  north-west  cor- 
ner of  Tioga  county,  covering  about  three  and  one-half  miles  of  the 
Boundary  were  surveyed  by  John  Adlum  ; here  he  noted  milestones 
112  and  115. 

A long  irregular  warrant  granted  to  Robert  Morris  in  1793  was 
not  surveyed  until  1826.  It  embraces  the  valley  of  Troup’s  creek, 
and  extends  nearly  three  miles  along  the  State  line  in  the  north-east 
part  of  Brookfield,  Tioga  couuty.  No  note  was  made  of  any  of  the 
milestones,  however.  A number  of  small  warrants  at  various 
points  in  the  district  were  not  surveyed  until  from  1827  to  1840,  by 
the  county  surveyors  of  the  counties  in  which  they  were  located. 
In  these  comparative!}'  recent  surveys  the  positions  of  milestones 
are  noted,  and  adjacent  warrant  corners  are  referred  to  them. 

West  of  milestone  115  the  territory  was  at  first  divided  into  nar- 
row districts  and  the  deputies  designated.  But  these  were  reorgan- 
ized and  deputies  appointed  who  made  most  of  the  final  surveys  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  State. 

John  Broadhead,  10  April,  1792,  was  made  deputy  fordistrict  No. 
2,  extending  from  milestone  115  to  140.  He  surveyed  all  of  the 
northern  part  of  his  district  except  the  north-west  corner  warrant, 

* John  Adlum  had  in  1791  run  the  west  line  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  Pur- 
chase in  New  York.  He  made  the  surveys  of  the  reservations  in  the  north-west- 
ern part  of  Pennsylvania  in  1789,  for  which  he  received  £175,  8s  $d.  (Col.  Rec., 
xvi,  109.)  He  probably  was  engaged  upon  the  resurvey  of  the  Bingham  estate. 


No.  71.] 


109 


which  was  laid  out  in  1805  by  Win,  Ellis;  and  a narrow  gore  reach- 
ing from  a short  distance  west  of  milestone  132,  nearly  5^  miles 
along  the  State  line,  the  warrant  for  which  was  granted  in  1793  but 
which  was  not  surveyed  until  1845,  by  a special  deputy  surveyor, 
who  made  no  mention  of  any  milestones  in  his  return.* 

John  Canan  was  appointed  11  April,  1793,  deputy  for  District  No. 
3,  between  milestones  140  and  160.  William  Bingham  was  granted 
warrants  for  the  land  in  this  district  west  of  the  north-west  corner  of 
Potter  county,  with  the  exception  of  one  warrant  in  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  district,  and  his  warrants  were  surveyed  by  Canan  in 
June,  1794.  The  north-west  corner  warrant,  which  embraces  the 
valley  of  Indian  Creek,  was  not  surveyed  until  1807,  by  Wm.  Foulke. 
The  north-eastern  warrants  in  Canan’ s district  were  surveyed  in  1805 
by  James  Johnston.  None  of  the  returns  mention  any  milestones. 

James  Hunter’s  district,  No.  4,  extended  from  milestone  160  to 
the  east  line  of  Brady’s  district,  which  intersected  the  Boundary  near 
milestone  177.  Hunter  surveyed  all  the  warrants  in  the  north  part 
but  mentions  no  milestones  in  his  returns.  The  western  tier  of 
warrants  in  this  district  was  taken  up  by  Wilhelm  Willink  of  the 
Holland  Land  Company. 

Wm.  R.  Brady,  18  April,  1792,  was  given  District  No.  5,  reaching 
14  miles  west  along  the  Boundary  to  a point  beyond  milestone  191. 
The  warrants  east  of  the  Allegany  river  were  granted  to  Robert 
Morris,  and  those  west  of  the  river  to  John  Dorsey. 

Brady  in  his  surveys  commenced  some  miles  south  of  the  Bound- 
ary and  worked  north,  laying  off  his  tiers  of  warrants  one  mile  wide 
until  he  thought  he  had  gone  far  enough,  and  then  stopped.  The 
warrants  east  of  the  Allegany  river  were  surveyed  in  1793,  and 
those  west  of  the  river  in  1795.  He  evidently  did  not  undertake  to 
find  the  State  line,  but  stopped  at  random.  In  consequence  he  laid 
out  the  north  tier  of  warrants  covering  a distance  along  the  Bound- 
ary over  fourteen  miles,  almost  entirely  in  New  York  ; nor  was  the 
north  line  of  this  tier  of  warrants  made  continuous  across  the  river. 
In  the  section  east  of  the  river  where  the  original  timber  is  still 
standing,  at  some  points  the  warrant  line  may  be  clearly  traced  a 
short  distance  south  of  the  Boundary.  At  one  point  in  the  recon- 
naissance, we  found  our  random  line  following  close  upon  it.  The 
plain  line  of  marked  trees  which  we  had  unconsciously  approached 
was  at  first  taken  as  the  State  line,  until  a milestone  was  reached 
and  several  witness  trees  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  surveys 
identified,  about  one  hundred  feet  farther  north.  The  owners  of 
the  infringing  warrants  east  of  the  river  finding  them  almost  entirely 
absorbed  by  New  York  abandoned  them,  and  as  a consequence,  the 
State  Boundary  not  being  a recognized  property  line,  was  entirely 
lost  sight  of  for  years,  until  the  milestones  were  discovered  in  1873 

* This  long  warrant,  or  gore,  was  included  in  the  re-surveys  of  the  Bingham 
estate  some  thirty  or  forty  years  earlier,  when  all  the  milestones  along  its  north 
line  were  found  and  located.  They  were  all,  with  one  exception,  in  place  in  1878. 


110 


[Senate 


by  the  McKean  and  Warren  County  Line  Commission.  West  of 
the  Allegany  an  apparently  wider  strip  of  the  interfering  warrants 
was  left  in  Pennsylvania. 

West  of  Brady’s  district  was  District  No.  6,  all  of  which  west  of 
the  Conewango  was  assigned  to  Samuel  Nicholson.  The  land  in  his 
district,  beginning  at  milestone  195  and  reaching  to  the  east  line  of 
the  Donation  lands,  between  milestone  213  and  214,  was  taken  up  by 
the  Willinks,  who  were  connected  with  the  Holland  Land  Company 
in  New  York.  These  lands  were  all  surveyed  by  Nicholson  in  1796. 
He  based  his  surveys  upon  the  Boundary  and  fixed  the  corners  of  his 
north  tier  of  warrants  at  the  original  mile  points.*  This  is  the  only 
section  where  this  was  systematically  done.  Except  in  a very  few  in- 
stances, the  original  milestones  seem  to  have  been  entirely  ignored 
by  the  deputy  surveyors  upon  their  returns.  If  their  field-notes 
could  be  found,  these  would  undoubtedly  exhibit  much  more  com- 
plete memoranda  than  are  shown  in  the  returns.  In  the  few  instances 
where  access  has  been  had  to  the  private  notes  of  the  original  sur- 
veyors, they  have  been  found  quite  full  in  detail.  One  great  error  in 
the  Pennsylvania  system  was  in  not  requiring  the  deputies  to  deposit 
copies  of  their  field-notes.  Robert  Morris,  who  for  a time  owned 
the  Phelps  and  Gorham  Purchase,  and  the  Holland  Land  Company 
in  New  York,  did  this,  and  in  consequence  a complete  description  of 
each  line  surveyed  is  accessible. 

John  Adlum  upon  the  map  of  his  district,  notes  the  milestones  so 
far  as  his  surveys  and  those  of  his  predecessor  follow  the  Boundary. 
Broadhead  upon  his  map  of  district  No.  12  shows  them  also. 

The  surveys  of  the  Donation  Lands  at  the  western  extremity  of  the 
Boundary  have  already  been  referred  to. 

Certified  township  No.  18,  Athens,  which  was  confirmed  to  the 
Connecticut  settlers  of  the  Susquehanna  Company  by  the  Compensa- 
tion Act  of  1799, f was  laid  out  in  May,  1786,  five  miles  square  “ad 
joining  the  State  Line,”  by  John  Jenkins,  who  began  “ on  the  north 
line  of  the  Susqa  Purchase  one  mile  west  of  the  Tioga  Branch  ” 
(Chemung  R.).  This  survey  was  made  a short  time  before  the  pres- 
ent boundary  was  run,  and  it  is  quite  apparent  from  the  plot  of  the 
township  that  the  “ State  line”  referred  to,  was  the  temporary  line 
laid  out  across  the  Susquehanna  and  Chemung  valleys  by  William 
Maclay  in  17S4.  This  township  was  covered  by  Pennsylvania  Lottery 
warrants  laid  out  by  Maclay  in  1785. 

Extensive  blocks  of  warrants  in  Tioga,  Potter  and  McKean  counties 
held  by  individuals  have  been  re-surveydd  with  much  more  care  and 
detail  than  the  original  surveys  exhibit.  The  principal  estate,  that 
of  William  Bingham,  extended  along  the  Boundary  from  a point  be- 
tween milestones  111  and  112  nearly  to  138,  in  Tioga  and  Potter 

* In  his  returns  of  surveys  these  are  not  referred  to  as  milestones  or  mileposts, 
but  simply  thus  “ 197th  mile,”  etc.  In  some  of  the  patents  based  upon  the  war- 
rant returns  the  word  “ stone  ” has  been  added. 

f See  II,  Appendix  L. 


No.  71.] 


Ill 


counties,  and  from  milestone  160  to  a point  west  of  168  in  McKean 
county.  The  field  notes  of  the  re-survey  are  deposited  in  the  fire- 
proof Land  Office  of  the  estate  in  Wellsboro,  Penn.  They  show  that 
considerable  pains  were  taken  with  the  survey.  Nearly  all  the  mile- 
stones were  found  and  noted. 

The  re-surveys  of  the  Keating  Estate  in  the  north-east  corner  of 
McKean  county  were  made  in  1801  and  1802  by  Francis  King 
and  were  entirely  independent  of  the  original  warrant  surveys,  many 
of  which  have  become  obsolete.  A portion  of  the  tract  was  again 
re-surveyed  in  1806,  1808  and  1810  by  Thomas  Lightfoot.  The 
notes,  which  are  in  descriptive  form,  are  deposited  in  the  Land  Office 
in  Smethport.  Abstracts  from  them,  so  far  as  they  relate  to  the 
Boundary,  will  be  found  in  Appendix  J. 

In  1809,  Dr.  Robert  H.  Rose  purchased  about  100,000  acres  in 
the  north-west  part  of  the  Susquehanna  county  and  north-east  part 
of  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania.  This  purchase  included  most  of 
the  warrants  which  were  bounded  north  by  the  “ temporary  State 
Line,”  and  some  of  those  lying  between  that  line  and  the  true  line, 
and  extended  along  the  latter  about  thirteen  miles.  The  tract  was 
carefully  re-surveyed  and  subdivided  into  small  holdings  under  Dr. 
Rose’s  direction.  In  the  re-surveys  many  of  the  original  warrant 
lines  were  disregarded.  Most  of  the  records  of  this  re-survey  were 
probably  destroyed  when  the  mansion  of  Dr.  Rose,  at  Silver  Lake, 
was  burned  in  1849.  Enough  are  yet  accessible  to  show  that  the 
surveys  were  very  carefully  made.  The  milestones  upon  the  State 
line  were  all  noted  and  the  corners  of  subdivisions  were  referred  to 
them. 

The  Sobieski  Ross  estate  in  Potter  county,  embracing  many  thou- 
sand acres,  some  portions  of  which  reached  the  Boundary,  was  re- 
surveyed at  an  early  date,  but  the  details  of  the  surveys  are  not  now 
accessible. 

In  the  State  of  New  York  adjoining  the  Boundary  west  of  the 
third  intersection  of  the  Susquehanna,  are  first,  the  Wheeler  Doug- 
lass Military  Location  reaching  200  chains  along  the  Line  from  the 
river,  to  a short  distance  west  of  Milestone  59 ; adjoining  this  on 
the  west  is  the  Joseph  Benedict  Military  Location  patented  to  Gen- 
eral Thomas  Thomas  in  1789,  the  south-west  corner  of  which  is  near 
Milestone  63.  These  were  laid  out  by  Moses  De  Witt,*  brother  of 
the  Surveyor-General,  in  June,  1788.  The  interior  subdivisions 
were  made  at  a much  later  date.  All  the  Milestones  along  the 
south  line  of  these  tracts  were  noted  in  the  original  survey,  and  at 
that  early  date  were  undoubtedly  in  good  shape.  No  notice  seems 
to  have  been  taken  of  the  Spanish  Hills  Monument  at  60§  miles,  or 
the  Third  Latitude  Stone. 

These  Military  Locations  and  that  of  John  Carpenter  in  the 

* Moses  De  Witt  acted  as  Compasstnan  in  1786  upon  the  Survey  of  the  Bound- 
ary. He  drew  Lot  3,  in  the  Township  of  Pornpey,  for  services  in  the  Army,  and 
settled  upon  it. 


112 


[Senate 


south-east  corner  of  Broome  county,  were  granted  under  an  “Act  for 
raising  Two  Regiments  for  the  defence  of  this  State  on  bounties  of 
unappropriated  Lands,”  passed  20  March,  17S1,  and  “An  Act  for 
raising  Troops  to  complete  the  Line  of  this  State  in  the  Service  of 
the  United  States,”  etc.,  passed  23  March,  1782.  The  Military 
Tract  in  Onondaga  and  other  interior  Counties  in  New  York  was 
granted  under  these  laws. 

Between  Benedict’s  Location  and  the  famous  Eighty-second  Mile- 
stone lies  the  allotment  of  the  old  “Town  of  Chemung”  which  was 
subdivided  in  1788  by  James  Clinton,  John  Hathorn  and  John  Can- 
tine,  Commissioners,  Moses  De  Witt  being  the  Surveyor.  The 
field-notes  of  this  Tract  are  contained  in  Field  Book  No.  27,  in  the 
Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Albany.  This  survey  was  made 
under  a Concurrent  Resolution  of  the  Legislature  passed  March,  1788, 
appointing  those  gentlemen  commissioners  to  settle  disputes  among 
the  settlers  (or  squatters)  upon  the  unoccupied  lands  in  that  section, 
and  to  subdivide  and  convey  the  land  to  them.  They  were  also 
directed  to  organize  the  Town.  In  the  survey,  the  river  bottom 
lands  were  laid  out  in  small  lots  frontingon  the  Chemung  River,  and 
reaching  back  upon  the  hills.  For  about  half  the  distance  along  the 
Boundary,  the  State  Line  forms  the  rear  boundary  of  a large  num- 
ber of  these  lots.  The  high  hilly  land  was  laid  out  into  larger  tracts 
or  lots,  many  of  which  were  afterward  subdivided  into  smaller  par- 
cels. Among  these  adjoining  the  Boundary  were  James  Watson’s 
Small  Tract,  reaching  from  Milestone  73  to  30  chains  west  of  78  ; and 
James  Watson’s  Large  Tract,  between  Milestone  81  and  82.  These 
were  surveyed  in  1819  by  Herman  Pumpelly  and  Robert  Lawrence, 
and  the  field-notes  are  in  the  possession  of  ITon.  John  Arnot,  Jr.,  in 
Elmira ; Large  Lot  144  east  of  W atson’s  Tract  has  also  been  subdivided 
into  small  lots.  In  the  original  survey  of  the  Township,  the  Mile- 
stones were  all  noted  ; some  of  them  were  made  the  corners  of  Sub- 
divisions, and  the  corners  of  other  subdivisions  were  referred  to 
Milestones;  so  in  the  survey  of  the  Watson  Tracts.  The  survey  and 
acts  of  the  Commissioners  were  confirmed  by  the  Legislature  the 
next  year.  (Chap.  4,  Laws  1789.) 

From  Milestone  82  to  a point  1,461J  feet  east  of  Milestone  127  lies 
the  celebrated  “ Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase  ” reaching  from  the 
Boundary  north  to  Lake  Ontario.*  This  Tract  was  subdivided  by 
leridian  lines  into  seven  Ranges,  numbered  from  the 
range  was  divided  into  Townships,  Township  1 in  each 
Range  adjoining  the  Boundary.  The  meridian  lines  were  originally 
run  in  1788  by  Hugh  Maxwell,  and  the  next  year,  assisted  by 
Augustus  Porter,  he  ran  the  lines  subdividing  the  Ranges  into  Town- 
ships. The  notes  of  these  surveys  are  inaccessible,  and  probably  not 
extant. 

Of  the  lands  adjoining  the  Boundary,  Phelps  and  Gorham  sold 
Township  1,  Range  2, to  Col.  Eleazer  Lindley,  13  August,  1789,  and  in 


approximate  n 
East,  and  each 


See  I,  Appendix  L. 


No.  71.] 


113 


November,  1790,  transferred  the  remainder  to  Robert  Morris.  The 
meridian  and  Township  lines  were  carefully  re-surveyed  throughout 
the  entire  tract  in  1792  by  Thomas  Davis,  Eobert  James,  and 
Frederick  Saxton,  under  the  general  direction  of  Major  Adam 
Hoops  of  Philadelphia.  Major  lloops  was  a member  of  the  staff  of 
Gen.  Sullivan,  during  his  raid  into  this  territory  of  the  Senecas  in 
1779,  and  it  was  upon  his  representations  of  the  fertility  of  the 
country  that  Morris  was  induced  to  become  so  extensive  a purchaser 
of  lands  in  Western  New  York. 

Very  full  notes  of  the  re-surveys  were  kept,  transcripts  of  which 
are  in  the  land  office  at  Bath,  Steuben  county.  In  these  surveys  the 
State  line  was  not  retraced,  except  for  short  intervals  for  the  purpose 
of  referring  three  of  the  Range  lines  to  the  nearest  milestones;  the 
eastern  three  Eange  lines  commencing  directly  at  Milestones  88,  94, 
and  100.  The  west  line  of  the  tract  was  run  in  October  and 
November,  1791,  by  John  Adlutn.  His  record  of  this  survey  opens  as 
follows  : — “ October  17th  1791  Began  a Survey  of  the  line  dividing 
the  land  of  Gorham  and  Phelps  & the  Indians.  Beginning  at  the 
forks  of  the  Genefsee  Eiver  at  an  Elm  marked  O.  P.  on  the  East 
side.  1st  Mile  On  the  Nights  of  the  15th  & 17th  of  October  by  accu- 
rate observation  of  the  Pole  Star’s  passing  the  Maredian  found  the 
Magnetic  variation  to  be  five  Minutes  East,”  etc.  He  took  frequent 
observations  for  variation,  which  at  the  south  end  of  the  line  he 
found  0°  45'  west.  On  the  eighth  of  November  at  51  miles  and 
293.7  perches  he  struck  the  State  line  and  made  this  note: — £‘NB, 
when  I intersected  the  Pennsylvania  line  set  up  a post  and  marked 
the  two  nearest  Beech  trees  with  the  Number  of  Miles  & ps  from 
the  forks  of  the  Chenefsee.”  This  point  is  now  wholly  unmarked 
even  by  a fence.  He  measured  east  on  the  Boundary  244.4  perches 
to  Milestone  126.  The  corner  is  22.14  chains  east  of  milestone  127 
, according  to  Augustus  Porter’s  preliminary  survey  of  the  Holland 
Company’s  Lands  in  July,  1798.  Interior  lines  were  run  through 
some  of  the  Townships  in  1792. 

Major  Hoops’  certificate  to  the  record  of  the  field-notes  is  as  fol- 
. lows : “ The  above  are  the  Contents  of  Sundry  Townships  and 
Tracts  of  land  in  the  County  of  Ontario  & State  of  New  York 
sold  by  Mess'-3  Gorham  and  Phelps  to  the  Honorable  Eobert  Morris 
esqr.  the  several  surveys  were  made  by  the  persons  whose  names  are 
herein  before  mentioned  and  their  field  Books  & Notes  — reference 
being  had  thereto  as  directed  in  the  Margin  at  A.  B.  C.  D.  E.  will 
shew  the  Surveys  of  the  particular  Townships  & Tracts. 

“Returned  at  Philadelphia  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  this 
Fourth  day  of  February  Anno  Domini  1793.  The  Contents  being 
as  above  written  in  figures  One  Million  two  hundred  and  sixty  four 
thousand  and  Five  hundred  and  Sixty  nine  Acres  One  Rood  and  ten 
perches 

“ Signed  A.  HOOPS  Surveyor.” 

In  April,  1792,  after  Major  Hoops  had  commenced  his  surveys, 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  ’ 15 


114 


[Senate 


the  Tract  was  sold  by  Robert  Morris,  through  his  English  agent,  to 
Capt.  Charles  Williamson,  the  agent  for  a syndicate  composed  of  Sir 
William  Pulteney,  John  Hornby,  and  Patrick  Colquohoun.  Major 
Hoops  completed  the  surveys  under  the  direction  of  Capt.  William- 
son. In  March,  1801,  the  transfer  was  perfected  by  conveyance  by 
Capt.  Williamson  to  the  individual  members  of  the  Syndicate,  the 
land  along  the  Boundary  being  taken  by  Sir  William  Pulteney,  by 
whose  estate  much  of  the  lands  have  since  been  conveyed  in  small 

of  the  Townships  were  subdivided  into  lots,  and  others  were 
conveyed  in  large  Tracts.  Of  the  latter,  adjoining  the  Boundary, 
the  Carroll  Tract  in  the  South-east  corner  of  the  Purchase,  acquired 
in  1814  by  Charles  Carroll  was  not  subdivided  until  a comparatively 
recent  date.  A narrow  strip  in  the  center  of  Township  1,  Range  4, 
was  conveyed  to  John  Hornby  in  October,  1806,  and  was  subdivided 
into  lots  by  him.  The  whole  of  Township  1,  Range  6,  was  purchased 
in  1795  by  Walsh  and  Staats  and  by  them  sold  in  smaller  Tracts. 
Wm.  Cooper  purchased  the  east  half  of  this  Township  and  in  Dec., 
1806,  conveyed  it  to  Golclsbrow  Banyar,  for  whose  heirs  in  1816  it 
was  subdivided  into  lots  by  Major  Zeplion  Flower.  Major  Flower 
located  all  the  milestones  along  the  south  end  of  the  half  Township.* 
A map  of  the  tract  was  made  in  1842  by  William  Wentz  of  Bing- 
hamton, by  whom  many  of  the  lots  were  re-surveyed.  The  south-west 
quarter  of  the  Township  was  conveyed  to  Sir  Edward  Ellice  ; when 
it  was  subdivided  is  unknown.  Squire  Whipple  made  a map  of  it 
in  1871,  upon  which  some  of  the  milestones  are  shown. 

The  remainder  of  the  south  tier  of  Townships  wras  subdivided  into 
small  lots  by  the  Pulteney  Estate.  Township  1,  Range  1 (except 
the  Carroll  Tract)  was  surveyed  in  September  and  October,  1818,  by 
Wm.  FI.  Bull.  Townships  1 in  Ranges  3 and  5 were  subdivided  in 
1794  and  1796  ; they  were  afterward  re-surveyed,  Range  3 by  Wil- 
liam H.  Bull  in  1818,  and  Range  5 by  Christopher  Hulbert  in  1810. 
Township  1,  Range  4,  excepting  the  Hornby  Tract  was  surveyed  in 
1819  by  -Fames  Reed  ; and  Township  1,  Range  7,  in  the  south-east 
corner  of  Allegany  county  was  surveyed  by  Major  Moses  Yan 

* Major  Flower’s  notes  are  still  in  existence  in  the  possession  of  his  grandson, 
Z.  F.  Walker,  Esq.,  of  Athens,  Penn.  With  reference  to  this  survey  he  says: 

This  is  the  3d  time  these  lands  have  been  surveyed.  Esq.  Backus  began  at  the 

115  milestone  which  was  28  C.  60  L.  too  far  East  as  Mr.  Cameron  said  (the  Land 
Office  agent  at  Bath)  but  I find  the  old  corner  was  28  C.  30  L.  West  of  the  116 
milestone.  I had  a plan  of  the  first  Survey,  but  neither  it  nor  the  field  notes  gave 
any  place  of  beginning.  After  going  to  the  Land  Office  & obtaining  all  informa- 
tion I could,  Mr.  Ford  thought  best  to  make  use  of  Esq.  Backus  survey  as  possible, 
but  when  I measured  the  lots  I found  some  much  wider  than  others,  and  after 
using  2 days  to  very  little  purpose,  I concluded  to  run  the  cross  lines  anew.  In 
tracing  the  State  Line  I found  the  S.  E.  cor.  of  the  town  28  c.  30  1.  West  of  the 

116  milestone,  and  a line  running  N 2°  E about  24  years  since  as  grains  of  the 
growth  showed.  Also  I found  a cor.  18  c 75  1.  west  of  the  119  milestone  and  a 
line  running  N.  2°  E.  about  12  years  old.  Said  cor.  being  so  near  the  center  of 
the  town  I thought  best  to  make  use  of  it  and  line  as  the  west  bounds  of  my 
Survey.  From  the  118  milestone  I find  a line  running  from  it  24  years  old.” 


parcels. 

Some 


No.  71.] 


115 


Cauipen,  who  noted  all  the  milestones  along  the  south  line.  In 
some  of  the  other  Townships  no  attention  seems  to  have  been  paid 
to  the  milestones. 

Col.  Bindley,  who  purchased  Township  1,  Range  2,  settled  upon 
his  tract  in  1790,  on  the  Tioga  Flats  near  milestone  90.  The  Town- 
ship was  never  regularly  subdivided  into  lots,  but  was  probably  con- 
veyed in  long  narrow  timber-lots  reaching  in  each  direction  back 
from  the  Tioga  River ; a large  proportion  of  the  Township  west  of 
the  River,  adjoining  the  Boundary,  being  held  until  after  his  death, 
when  it  was  subdivided  among  his  heirs  in  1S29  by  Michael  B. 
Thorpe.  In  his  survey  he  made  note  of  the  milestones  and  the 
Fourth  Latitude  Stone  on  the  left  bank  of  the  River. 

Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase  from  Massachusetts  in  1787. 
originally  embraced  all  the  land  in  the  State  of  New  York,  along 
the  Boundary,  west  of  Milestone  82,  but  the  portion  west  of  the 
tract  since  popularly  known  by  that  designation,  was  abandoned  by 
them  before  the  Indian  title  was  extinguished.  It  was  reconveyed  by 
Massachusetts  to  Robert  Morris  in  1796,  and  after  reserving  a tract 
12  miles  in  width  along  the  Boundary,  he  conveyed  the  remainder 
to  the  Holland  Land  Company.  He  divided  the  Reserve  into  two 
Ranges,  and  these  into  Townships  six  miles  square,  which  were  cut 
up  into  mile  square  sections.  Whether  these  sections  were  all  of 
them  marked  upon  the  ground  is  not  known.  It  is  probable  that 
they  were  only  marked  upon  the  outlines  of  the  Townships,  the  in- 
terior lines  not  being  run,  as  was  the  case  in  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany’s Purchase. 

The  Ranges  were  conveyed  in  Large  Tracts  irrespective  of  the 
Township  lines,  and  these  tracts  were  re-subdivided  at  the  option  of 
the  purchasers.  The  Willing  and  Francis  Tract  in  the  south  end  of 
Range  1 was  cut  up  into  lots  of  about  160  acres  each,  the  field  notes 
of  which  are  lost,  and  the  Sterritt  Tract  in  the  southern  extremity 
of  Range  2 was  subdivided  into  lots  of  about  108  acres  each,  by 
whom  is  unknown. 

The  Holland  Land  Company  placed  its  surveys  in  charge  of 
Joseph  Ellicott,  a brother  of  Andrew,  and  judging  from  his  instruc- 
tions to  his  deputies  in  the  matter  of  marking  trees,  he  was  as  care- 
ful and  accurate  a man  as  his  brother.* 

The  initial  survey  was  made  by  Augustus  Porter  who,  “ July  5th, 
1798  Began  at  Gorham  & Phelps  South  West  Corner  which  is  a 
post  & Beech  tree  standing  on  the  North  Boundary  line  of  Penn- 
sylvania which  was  set  by  John  Adlum  in  Novr  17'Jl.  From  thence 
measured  West  along  the  said  North  Boundary  line  ” setting  mile 
posts  at  the  end  of  each  mile,  and  noting  the  Sixth  Latitude  Stone 
and  all  the  milestones  except  135  (which  was  discovered  in  the  sur- 
vey of  the  Bingham  Estate  in  Pennsylvania  in  1806)  until  he  had 
measured  12  miles,  the  width  of  the  Morris  Reserve,  which  point 
he  reached  9 July.f  Here  he  set  a stake  to  mark  the  south-east  cor- 

* See  I,  Appendix  H. 

f See  II,  Appendix  H for  Extracts  from  Porte r’s.Field  Book. 


116 


[Senate 


ner  of  the  possessions  of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  ce  & return 
about  40  perches  on  Line  and  encamp  it  being  1 oclock  and  very 
rainy.”  The  stake  marking  this  important  corner  he  afterward  re- 
placed with  a substantial  stone  monument  which  still  remains  undis- 
turbed. It  stands  upon  a steep  North-easterly  slope  south  of  the 
Honeoye  Creek,  about  150  feet  above  the  bottom  lands,  and  about  a 
mile  S.  45°  W.  from  Alma  Post  Office  and  3,958  feet  west  of  Mile- 
stone 138.  It  is  quite  plainly  marked  on  the  east  side: 

No.  1.  S.  W.  Corner 

W est  side  : — 


south  edge  — 


Top  — 


W.  & J.  Willink,  S.  E.  Corner 


SA 

Pen 
Lat.  42° 


Mekidian  12  miles  West  of 

Yar  0°  15’  W 
1798. 


G & P S.  W.  Corner 


From  this  monument  a transit  line  was  run  north  under  Ellicott’s 
direction,  by  his  brother  Benjamin,  as  the  eastern  Boundary  of  the 
territory.  This  has  always  been  known  as  the  “ Eastern  Transit 
Meridian.”  Milestones  were  set  upon  it  marked  “ W.  & J.  W.”  in 
addition  to  the  number. 

The  system  of  sub-division  adopted  by  Joseph  Ellicott  was  almost 
identical  with  that  now  in  use  in  the  surveys  of  the  Public  lands  of 
the  United  States,  the  system  of  Ranges  and  Townships.  It  had 
been  previously  used  by  his  brother  Andrew  in  surveys  of  Govern- 
ment lands  in  Ohio.  Who  invented  this  simple  and  comprehensive 
plan  is  questioned  ; by  some  it  is  ascribed  to  Gen.  Wm.  H.  Harrison. 
Andrew  Ellicott  may  probably  be  correctly  credited  with  it. 

The  entire  tract  was  divided  into  15  Ranges,  bounded  by  Meridian 
lines  reaching  from  the  Parallel  Boundary  to  the  Lakes,  and  num- 
bered from  the  east.  Ranges  1 and  2 were  each  6 miles  in  width  ; 
3 and  4 were  each  4 miles  wide;  5 and  6 were  each  6 miles.  Range 
7 included  the  “ Willink  Strip,”  and  the  lands,  about  5J  miles,  re- 
maining East  of  Range  8.  Ranges  8 to  15  were  each  6 miles  in 
width,  and  were  consecutively  laid  off  from  the  west,  commencing 
at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  State.  The  Ranges  were  sub-divided 
into  6-mile  Townships  numbered  from  the  south. 

The  surveys  of  the  Township  outlines  were  made  in  1798-9  by 
various-Deputies.  Mile  and  half-mile  posts,  witnessed  by  three  or 
four  trees,  were  set,  the  original  intention  being  to  sub-divide  the 
interior  of  the  Townships  into  mile  sections  and  quarter  sections  as 
is  now  done  upon  United  States  lands.  The  unit  of  sub-division 
finally  adopted,  was  360  acres,  or  60  chains  square. 

At  the  South-west  corner  of  Range  6 was  set  a monument  similar 
to  that  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  Purchase. 


No.  71.] 


117 


It  was  found  intact  in  1879.  It  is  marked  East  side : — 


West  side : — 


HOLLAND  LAND 
C° 

South  West  Corner 
Range  N°.  6. 

W.  & J.  WILLINK 
Rge  N°  7. 


South  edge : — 
North  edge : — 


P 


T 

N°  1 


On  top : — 


It  is  548.4  feet  east  of  Milestone  171.  From  this  monument  a 
transit  line  was  run  north  to  Lake  Ontario,  afterward  known  as  the 
‘‘Western  Transit  Meridian,”  forming  a correction  line  for  the 
Township  surveys,  and  separating  the  three  Ranges  (4,  5 and  6) 
allotted  to  the  Holland  Land  Company  proper,  from  a strip  113 
(‘bains  68  links  wide,  belonging  to  W.  & J.  Willink,  reaching  from 
the  State  Line  to  the  Lake,  and  known  as  the  “ Willink  Strip.” 
Milestones  were  set  upon  this  Meridian  also. 

West  of  the  “ Willink  Strip,”  at  the  south-west  corner  of  which 
was  set  a monument  marked  “ W.  & J.  W.”  on  the  east  side,  and 
H.  L.  C°  ” on  the  west,  the  Ranges  were  allotted  to  the  Holland 
Land  Company  proper.  The  monument  at  the  south-west  corner  of 
the  Willink  Strip  is  1539.1  feet  west  of  Milestone  172. 

Augustus  Porter,  when  he  had  permanently  marked  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  Purchase,  proceeded  to  lay  out  the  territory 
allotted  to  Wilhein  & Jan  Willink,  reaching  16  miles  along  the 
State  Line,  and  comprising  the  first  three  Ranges,  setting  mile  and 
half-mile  posts,  which  were  numbered  from  the  south-west  corner  of 
Phelps’  and  Gorham’s  Purchase.  At  the  28  mile  point  (south-west 
corner  of  Range  3)  he  set  a monument  similar  to  that  at  the  12  mile 
point,  marked  on  the  east  side  “ and  on  the  west  side 

k*  H.  L.  C°.  Beg.”  This  monument  was  i 196.6  feet  east  of  Mile- 
stone 155.  It  disappeared  about  forty  years  ago.  After  this  he  ran 
north  on  the  west  line  of  the  tract. 

Upon  the  south  end  of  Range  1,  he  noted  Milestone  139  (without, 
however,  giving  its  distance  from  the  corner).  He  also  located  a 
tree  which  he  designated  as  the  “ 141  Mile-tree.”  He  found  Mile- 
stones 144  and  155,  and  also  a tree  upon  the  Oswayo  Flats,  which 
he  designated  the  148  mile  tree.  The  interior  Range  lines  of  the 
Willink  tract  were  soon  afterward  run  by  Amzi  Atwater. 

The  south  line  of  Township  1 in  Range  4 was  surveyed  by  Ware- 
ham  Shepard  in  October,  1798,  and  he  found  Milestones  155,  157 
and  158.  The  west  line  of  the  Township  was  run  in  December, 
1798,  by  James  Smedley. 


lid 


[Senate 


The  south  and  west  lines  of  Township  1 of  Range  5,  were  surveyed 
by  Richard  M.  Stoddard  in  October  and  November,  1798.  lie  found 
all  the  Milestones  along  the  south  line.  Stoddard  had  previously, 
in  June  and  July,  surveyed  the  south  and  east  lines  of  Township  1 
of  Range  13,  upon  which  he  made  no  note  of  any  milestones;  and 
also  the  south  and  east  lines  of  Township  1,  Range  8,*  and  re-sur- 
veyed the  south  line  of  the  Allegany  Indian  Reservation.  Upon  the 
State  Line  here  he  found  Milestones  178,  181,  182  and  185. 

The  south  line  of  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Ranges  were  surveyed 
by  Stephen  Benton,  Jr.,  in  October,  1799.  In  order  to  find  liis 
starting  point,  he  re-surveyed  the  south  lines  of  the  fourth  and  fifth 
ranges,  but  upon  the  entire  distance  across  the  four  ranges  he  makes 
no  mention  of  any  Milestones,  although  Shepard  and  Stoddard,  a 
year  previous  had  found  nine,  and  Ebenezer  Cary,  in  a re-survey  of 
the  Western  Transit  Meridian  in  1799,  had  referred  the  monument 
at  the  south  end  to  Milestone  171.  James  Dewey  re-surveyed  the 
south  end  of  the  “ Willink  Strip”  without  finding  either  171  or  172. 
These  were  afterward  noted  by  the  Surveyor  who  divided  the 
“ Strip”  into  sections.  Wareham  Shepard,  in  June  and  July,  179S, 
surveyed  the  south,  east  and  north  lines  of  Township  1,  and  the 
north  line  of  Township  2 in  Range  15  ; upon  the  State  Line  “ be- 
ginningat  a maple  post  in  a heap  of  stones”  at  the  south-east  corner 
of  the  “ Erie  Triangle”  (no  mention  is  made  of  a monument  at  this 
point),  he  ran  east  across  the  south  end  of  the  range  and  found  the 
221,  220  and  219  u Mileposts.”  This  was  within  the  limit  of  the 
Donation  District  Surveys  of  1785.  In  1802  these  “ mileposts  ” 
were  not  found  by  John  Cochran,  the  Pennsylvania  Deputy,  who 
was  sent  to  investigate  the  interference  of  surveys.  Shepard  also 
surveyed,  in  July,  1798,  the  south  and  east  lines  of  Township  1, 
Range  11 ; here  he  found  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  and  Milestone 
200,  and  a beech  tree  marked  199  miles;  and  in  July  and  August 
he  surveyed  the  south  and  east  lines  of  Township  1,  Range  9,  and 
made  a note  of  Milestones  185,  186,  188  and  189. 

In  July,  1798,  Amzi  Atwater  surveyed  the  south  and  east  lines  of 
Township  1 in  Ranges  10  and  14;  and  upon  the  south  lines  of  both 
these  Townships,  he  made  no  note  of  any  Milestones.  Nor  did  Jn° 
Elliott,  who  surveyed  the  south  and  east  lines  of  Township  1,  Range 
12,  in  the  same  month. 

The  west  line  of  the  Tract,  the  “ Meridian  Boundary,”  was  re-sur- 
veyed by  James  Smedley  from  the  South  in  July,  1798.  He  made 
its  entire  length  18  miles  50  chains,  91  links  to  a stake  39  links 
north  of  the  initial  Monument,  1 chain  S9  links  shorter  than  the 
distance  given  upon  the  map  of  the  original  survey.  Smedley 
made  no  note  of  any  of  the  original  monuments  except  the  Initial 
Monument,  which  he  says  was  broken  in  pieces. 

*The  line  along  this  Township  he  ran  from  the  west,  and  upon  the  first  three 
miles,  in  his  notes  and  in  the  record  the  description  of  the  topography  is  reversed, 
the  streams  being  made  to  run  north  instead  of  south,  etc. 


No.  71.] 


119 


The  original  Surveyor’s  lield-notes  of  the  Township  line  surveys, 
surveys  of  .Reservations  and  Traverses  of  several  roads  and  streams, 
are  contained  in  69  small  memorandum  books  which  were  deposited 
in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  in  accordance  with  an  Act  of 
the  Legislature  passed  April  30,  1839. 

These  little  field-books  were  each  verified  before  Judge  Nelson, 
12  April,  1841.  The  topography  of  the  lines  traversed  is  very  well,  al- 
though roughly,  shown.  The  surveys,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Transit  meridians,  were  made  with  the  compass.  The  variation  of 
the  needle  is  noted  upon  each  township  line.  Most  of  them  contain 
a certificate  similar  to  this:  “ Examined  and  corrected  Jno.  Thomp- 
son, Assistant  Director  & Surveyor,  Massachusetts  Pre-emption, 
August  8th  1798.” 

The  consolidated  records  of  the  Surveys  of  the  several  Ranges  are 
contained  in  15  Record  Books  certified  by  Joseph  Ellicott,  “ Surveyor 
for  the  Holland  Land  Company,”  also  deposited  in  the  office  of  the 
Secretary  of  State.  Abstracts  from  these  Records  are  given  in  Ap- 
pendix H. 

The  Townships  were  divided  into  Sections  soon  after.  As  be- 
fore stated,  the  unit  generally  adopted  was  60  chains  square.  Town- 
ship 1 of  Range  8,  was,  however,  divided  into  Sections  approxi- 
mately 80  chains  square.  The  field-books  of  these  surveys  are  quite 
barren  of  detail.  The  Township  outlines  w^ere  not  re-run,  the  outer 
section  corners  being  located  by  measuring  to  the  nearest  mile  or 
half-mile  post.  In  rare  instances,  several  milestones  upon  the  Par- 
allel Boundary  are  noted.  The  section  corners  were  generally  wit- 
nessed as  carefully  as  were  the  mile  and  half-mile  posts  of  the  pre- 
vious survey.  Some  of  these  witness  trees  still  remain.  These  sur- 
veys were  made  by  various  surveyors,  whose  names  are  not  now 
known,  as  they  are  not  entered  in  the  field  books,  except  in  occa- 
sional instances.  Among  them  was  William  Peacock,  who  for  many 
years  afterward  administered  the  affairs  of  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany in  Chautauqua  County.  The  original  field-books  of  the  section 
surveys  are  in  the  possession  of  David  E.  E.  Mix,  C.  E.,  of  Batavia, 
N.  Y. 

In  1847  James  Sperry  re-surveyed  most  of  the  sections  along  the 
Boundary  upon  Townships  1 in  Ranges  4 and  5 of  the  Holland 
Land  Company’s  Purchase,  Cattaraugus  Co.  He  makes  no  note  of 
any  of  the  milestones,  most  of  which  must  have  been  standing  at 
that  time.  He  marked  new  reference  trees  to  the  Section  Corners, 
and  in  several  cases  when  the  original  witness  trees  were  still  stand- 
ing (1878)  the  corners  fixed  from  his  witnesses  and  the  original 
witnesses  differ  materially.  The  Field  Book  of  this  re-survey  is  in 
the  possession  of  Hon.  Geo.  Yan  Campen  of  Olean,  N.  Y. 

Recent  Ex-i*arte  Official  Examinations  of  Portions  of  the 

Boundary. 

Before  the  general  reconnaissance  of  the  entire  Boundary  was 
undertaken  in  1877,  by  the  Joint  action  of  the  two  States,  but  three 


120  -[Senate 

or  four  official  examinations  of  any  considerable  portions  of  the 
Line  had  been  undertaken,  of  which  we  have  any  record. 

The  first  was  in  1802,  when  Deputy  Surveyor  John  Cochran  was 
directed  by  the  Surveyor-General  of  Pennsylvania  to  retrace  the 
Boundary  across  the  Donation  Lands  west  of  Milestone  213,  which 
were  surveyed  in  1786  by  David  Watts,  and  were  afterward  found 
to  encroach  upon  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  lands  in  Hew  York. 

Cochran’s  return  was  made  in  the  form  of  a sketch  of  the  line, 
showing  the  manner  in  which  it  intersected  various  warrant  lines, 
which  is  pasted  upon  the  margin  of  the  Map  of  the  District  de- 
posited in  the  Land  Office  at  Harrisburg  The  sketch  bears  the  fol- 
lowing legend  : “ A draught  representing  the  manner  in  which  the 
York  line  runs  through  and  interferes  with  the  surveys  in  the  tenth 
Donation  District,  examined  on  the  ground  agreeable  to  the  letter  of 
instruction*  from  the  Surveyor-General  dated  the  16th  of  Septem- 
ber 1802  by  me  John  Cochran,  D.  S.  To  Samuel  Cochran,  EsqT, 
Surveyor-General.”  Upon  this  “ draught ” the  mile-points  of  the 
Boundary,  within  the  limits  of  the  District,  are  all  marked  but  are 
noted  as  trees,  no  milestones  being  mentioned,  although  three 
“ mile-posts” — 219,  220  and  221  — were  found  by  the  Holland 
Land  Company’s  surveyor  a few  years  previously.  The  Boundary 
line  shown  upon  the  u draught  ” is  also  laid  down  upon  the  original 
map.  It  intersected  the  East  line  of  the  District,  about  five-eighths 
of  a mile  East  of  the  “ 214  M.  Tree.”  The  South-west  corner  of 
Hew  York  was  50  perches  east  of  the  “ 225  mile  tree,”  and  the 
Horth-east  corner  of  the  District  was  more  than  three  and  one-half 
miles  north  of  the  Boundary  in  the  East  part  of  the  present  town 
of  Clymer,  Chautauqua  County.  Sketch  Ho.  5 is  compiled  from 
the  map  and  “ draught  ” referred  to,  and  shows  the  relation  of  the 
Horth-east  portion  of  this  tract  to  the  State  and  Town  lines. 

MaeClure’s  examination  of  the  interference  of  the  four  tracts  in 
Hambden  in  1810-11  may  be  classed  in  this  category. 

The  second  examination  was  confined  to  that  portion  of  the 
Boundary  adjacent  to  Chautauqua  County,  Hew  York,  and  was 
undertaken  at  the  request  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  by  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  that  County,  in  1870.  Hon.  O.  1).  Hinck- 
ley, of  Clymer,  one  of  the  members  of  the  Board,  made  a recon- 
naissance of  the  Boundary  Hortb  and  East  from  the  “Corner.”  He 
confined  himself  mainly  to  the  identification,  so  far  as  possible,  of 
the  positions  of  the  mile  and  half-mile  posts  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company’s  Township  Surveys  of  1798,  by  means  of  the  witness 
trees.  He  succeeded  in  finding  and  identifying,  by  means  of  old 
witness  trees,  a number  of  the  points  fixed  by  that  Company’s  Sur- 
veyors in  1798.  Several  of  these  points  were  made  use  of  in  1884 
in  adjusting  the  western  portion  of  the  Parallel  Boundary.  He 

* This  letter  of  instruction  is  not  now  to  be  found.  It  probably  shared  the  fate 
of  other  documents  in  the  destruction  of  the  Erie  County  Court  House  by  fire  in 
1829. 


No.  71.] 


1 21 


also  found  tlie  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  at  195-^-  miles,  Milestones  200, 
203,  204  and  208,  and  the  remains  of  Milestones  195  and  201. 
Owing  to  the  discrepancy  of  over  1,000  feet  in  distance  between 
Milestones  192  and  195,  Mr.  Hinckley  found  none  of  the  Milestones 
East  of  the  latter. 

The  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  having  the  matter  in 
charge  made  the  following  report,  a copy  of  which,  with  Mr. 
Hinckley’s  notes,  was  transmitted  to  the  Regents  of  the  University. 

“The  undersigned  Committee,  to  which  was  referred  the  duty  of 
superintending  the  retracing  of  the  State  line,  adjoining  Chautau- 
qua county,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  how  many  of  the  old 
land-marks  and  monuments  remain,  indicating  the  exact  locality  of 
said  line,  and  are  in  condition  to  be  recognized  with  certainty,  re- 
spectfully report : 

‘‘That  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  we  have  employed  Otis  D. 
Hinckley,  Esq.,  Surveyor,  and  that  under  our  direction  he  has  com- 
pleted the  said  survey  and  has  made  his  report  to  us  from  actual 
survey  and  measurement  of  every  mile  of  said  line,  which  report 
Proves  conclusively  that  many  of  the  old  land  marks  and  monu- 
ments still  remain  on  the  line,  sufficient  to  identify  with  certainty 
the  line  as  originally  located,  on  both  sides  of  the  county. 

u In  consideration  of  which,  your  Committee  recommend  to  this 
Board,  the  propriety  of  requesting  the  State  authorities,  as  soon  as 
practicable,  to  take  such  steps  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  erection 
of  permanent  monuments  on  said  State  line,  on  both  the  south  and 
west  lines  of  this  county.” 

The  expense  of  this  survey  was  $396.55,  which  was  paid  by 
Chautauqua  County.  The  County  was  afterward  reimbursed  by 
State  Appropriation. 

The  third  examination  wTas  of  the  portion  of  the  Boundary  ad  ja- 
cent to  the  Corner  of  McKean  and  Warren  Counties  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

The  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  in  1873  appointed  a Commission 
composed  of  three  gentlemen,  Messrs.  C.  L.  Knapp,  of  Corydon, 
Pa.,  G.  W.  Starr,  of  Erie  county,  Pa.,  and  Mr.  A.  JD.  Hamlin,  of 
Smethport,  Pa., “to  re-mark  and  permanently  fix  the  Boundary  line 
between  the  Counties  of  Warren  and  McKean,  and  also  to  run  and 
mark  the  State  Line  from  the  Allegany  River  East  to  some  point 
where  it  is  more  plain,”  etc.  (Laws  of  1873,  page  673.)  This 
Commission  performed  the  duties  imposed  upon  it  during  the  suc- 
ceeding season.  Mr.  Hamlin  acted  as  Surveyor  for  the  Commission. 
Mr.  Knapp  we  met  immediately  on  our  arrival  at  Corydon  in  1878, 
and  from  conversation  with  him,  and  a sketch  taken  from  the  map 
filed  by  the  Commission,  kindly  furnished  us  by  Mr.  Robert  King, 
of  Smethport,  we  learned  that  they  went  to  a point  about  1J  miles 
West  of  the  Allegany  River,  where  by  inspection  of  old  marked 
trees,  they  satisfied  thetmelves  of  the  position  of  the  Boundary,  and 
ran  East  with  the  compass.  They  found  by  this  means  milestone 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  16 


122 


[Senate 


183,  the  existence  of  which  was  unknown  to  any  one  in  that  sec- 
tion. They  also  followed  the  Boundary  as  far  East  as  milestone 
178,  finding  that  and  all  the  intermediate  ones.  They  also  set  a 
stone  to  supply  the  vacancy  at  184  miles,  and  set  substantial  stones 
at  the  intersection  of  two  roads.  All  the  milestones  found  by  them 
had  been  lost  sight  of  for  years,  and  but  three  of  them  are  noted 
in  the  Field  Books  of  the  Holland  Land  Company.  The  Boundary 
was  found  to  be  much  in  doubt  at  various  points,  and  the  lines  of 
occupation  West  of  milestone  183  in  the  cleared  valley  of  the  River, 
were  found  to  vary  considerably  from  the  Boundary  as  indicated 
by  the  milestones. 

The  section  of  the  Boundary  which  was  explored  by  this  Com- 
mission is  entirely  within  Brady’s  Survey  District,  referred  to  pre- 
viously in  this  report,  in  which  the  Pennsylvania  Warrants  were 
laid  out  without  regard  to  the  position  of  the  Boundary,  one  tier 
overlapping  New  York  lands  nearly  its  entire  width. 

During  the  Session  of  Congress  for  1874-5,  “ an  act  to  authorize 
the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians  to  lease  land  within  the 
Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  Reservations,  and  to  confirm  existing 
leases,”  was  passed.  Section  2 of  this  act  provides  “ that  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  shall  appoint  three  commissioners  whose 
duty  it  shall  be,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to*  survey,  locate  and  establish 
proper  boundaries  and  limits  of  the  villages  of  Vandal  ia,  Carrollton, 
Great  Valley,  Salamanca,  West  Salamanca  and  Red  House  within 
said  Allegany  reservation  including  therein,  as  far  as  practicable,  all 
lands  now  occupied  by  white  settlers,  and  such  other  land  as,  in  their 
opinion,  may  be  reasonably  required  for  the  purpose  of  such  vil- 
lages. The  boundaries  of  said  villages  so  surveyed,  located  and 
established  shall  be  the  limits  of  said  villages  for  all  the  purposes  of 
this  act.” 

Commissioners  were  appointed  under  this  and  were  referred  for 
instructions  to  the  office  of  Indian  Affairs  in  the  Department  of  the 
Interior.  In  the  course  of  their  investigations  they  found  that  it 
was  quite  necessary  that  the  outer  boundaries  of  the  original  Alle- 
gany Reservation  should  be  re-surveyed.  In  transmitting  a resolution 
upon  this  subject,  adopted  by  the  council  of  the  Seneca  Nation,  the 
commissioners  say  that  they  “ found  difficulty  in  ascertaining  the 
lines  of  the  Allegany  Indian  Reservation  according  to  the  original 
survey  made  in  1798.” 

The  Commissioners  were  afterward  instructed  to  extend  their 
operations  to  the  outlines  of  the  Reservation  for  the  survey  and 
restoration  of  the  lines  as  established  in  1798.  The  supervision  of 
their  labors  was,  in  1876,  transferred  to  the  General  Land  Office. 

The  south  end  of  this  Reservation  is  bounded  by  the  Parallel 
Boundary  for  9,093  feet  on  both  sides  of  the  Allegany  River.  As 
all  the  line  marks  and  witness  trees  had  become  obliterated  and  de- 
stroyed, the  surveyor  for  this  commission  probably  accepted  the 
monuments  set  by  the  County  Line  Commissioners  East  of  the 
river  in  1873,  as  authentic,  and  used  them  in  fixing  the  Line  along 
the  State  Boundary. 


No.  71.] 


123 


Cylindrical  iron  monuments  five  feet  long  were  set  at  each  angle  of 
the  Reservation,  of  which  there  are  51.  Those  marking  the  corners 
upon  the  State  Line  were  not  set  until  after  our  reconnaissance  in 
1878.  That  at  the  south-east  corner  is  in  the  center  of  a road  1783 
feet  west  of  milestone  183,  and  is  buried  so  that  its  top  projects  but 
little  above  the  surface ; it  is  0.55  feet  too  far  south.  The  monument 
at  the  south-west  corner  was  but  temporarily  set  and  had  been  pulled 
out.  But  its  place  was  readily  identified  in  1884-,  and  a granite 
monument  set,  the  iron  monument  being  reset  at  the  north  side  of 
the  other.  The  point  at  which  it  had  previously  stood  was  about 
two  feet  too  far  north. 

In  August,  1881,  before  the  work  of  final  adjustment  of  the 
Boundary  was  commenced,  the  County  Commissioners  of  three 
counties  in  Pennsylvania  caused  a reconnaissance  of  the  Boundary 
adjacent  to  those  Counties  to  be  made,  for  the  purpose  of  locating 
and  identifying  the  intersection  of  the  Town  and  County  lines  with 
the  State  Line. 

The  surveys  in  Potter  County  were  made  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Crosby, 
the  present  Prothonotary.  In  Warren  County,  the  present  County 
Surveyor  made  the  Surveys.  And  in  Erie  County,  the  service  was 
performed  by  George  Platt,  Civil  Engineer,  of  Girard,  Penn.  The  late 
David  Heise,  of  Wellsboro,  at  the  request  of  the  Commissioners  of 
Tioga  County,  Penn.,  furnished  extracts  from  the  County  Records 
for  the  same  purpose,  but  no  surveys  were  made. 

The  Supervisors  of  the  Towns  of  Kirkwood,  Windsor,  and  San- 
ford. in  Broome  County,  New  York,  caused  surveys  to  be  made  for 
the  location  of  the  corners  of  those  towns,  which  had  never  been 
fixed. 

Aside  from  these  instances,  none  of  the  County  or  Town  officials 
along  the  Boundary  appeared  to  interest  themselves  in  the  question 
of  the  proper  location  of  the  line.  Exception  must  be  made  in  favor 
of  Hon.  O.  D.  Hinckley,  for  years  a member  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.,  and  the  present  Clerk  of  the 
Board,  who  made  the  examination  of  the  Boundary  in  1870,  along 
that  County.  His  intimate  knowledge  of  that  section  of  the  line  was 
of  material  benefit  in  the  settlement  of  obscure  portions. 


124 


[Senate 


JOINT  RECONNAISSANCE  OF  1877-9. 


As  was  stated  in  the  first  part  of  this  report,  the  examination  of 
the  Boundary  under  the)  joint  action  of  the  two  States  was  com- 
menced in  1877. 

Tuesday  morning,  nineteenth  June  in  that  year,  at  Hancock,  Dela- 
ware County,  N.  Y..  in  accordance  with  appointment  previously 
made  by  the  members  of  the  Joint  Commission,  I met  Col.  James 
Worrall  and  Col.  C.  M.  Gere,  members  of  the  Pennsylvania  Boundary 
Commission,  Dr.  S.  B.  Woolworth,  Secretary  of  the  Joint  Commis- 
sion, Dr.  D.  J.  Pratt,  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Regents, 
Mr.  James  T.  Gardiner,  Director  of  the  New  York  State  Survey, 
and  Mr.  Francis  Blake,  Jr.,  Assistant  U S.  Coast  Survey.  After  a 
full  consultation  upon  the  subject  of  the  projected  re-examination  of 
the  Boundary,  the  entire  party  proceeded  up  the  Delaware  River 
about  seven  miles,  to  what  is  well  known  in  the  vicinity  as  Monu- 
ment Island,  to  identify,  if  possible,  the  points  and  monuments  at  the 
Initial  Point,  described  in  the  report  of  Messrs.  Rittenhouse  and 
Holland  in  1774,  which  is  given  in  full  in  the  former  part  of  this 
report. 

Upon  a careful  examination  of  both  banks  of  the  river  and  consult- 
ation with  a number  of  old  residents  present,  it  was  quite  evident 
that  nothing  could  be  identified,  and  that  both  monuments  described 
in  the  report  referred  to,  were  lost.  A copy  of  the  “draught”  re- 
ferred to  in  the  report  is  shown  in  Sketch  No.  2. 

The  point  A of  the  main  land,  upon  which  the  original  Commis- 
sioners fixed  their  instruments,  could  be  quite  readily  defined.  The 
bayou  between  this  point  and  the  island  has,  for  a long  time,  been 
filled  with  soil  and  cultivated,  but  the  outlines  of  the  original  island 
were  thought  to  be  distinctly  marked.  The  distance,  however,  from 
the  point  A to  the  upper  end  of  the  island  was  found  to  be  very 
much  in  excess  of  that  given  in  the  report,  and  there  were  evidences 
that  a considerable  portion  of  the  upper  part  of  the  island  had  been, 
at  some  time,  washed  away  by  the  frequent  freshets  in  the  river. 

The  right  bank  of  the  river,  which  is  a high  bluff,  at  the  base  of 
a high  hill,  showed  decided  indications  of  the  effects  of  freshets 
in  washing  away  the  banks,  causing  extensive  slides.  Parties  pres- 
ent informed  us  that  the  monument  originally  set  upon  this  bank 
had  been  washed  away  and  had  been  picked  up  among  the  loose 
stone  upon  the  shore  of  the  river.  It  was  carried  down  to  a mill 
which  is  now  in  ruins.  It  is  said  to  have  afterward  been  brought 
back  and  set  up  out  of  the  reach  of  the  water. 

A number  of  old  marked  trees  were  found  in  the  woods  above 
the  river  bank,  but  these  seemed  to  indicate  that  two  or  three  dis- 


No.  71.] 


125 


tinct  lines  had  been  run,  as  the}T  did  not  all  seem  to  correspond  with 
each  other  in  respect  to  alignment.  The  most  positive  indication 
was  upon  an  old  beech  stub,  some  twelve  inches  diameter,  which 
stood  upon  the  brow  of  the  present  bluff.  This  showed  distinct 
u blazes”  on  both  sides,  made  when  the  tree  was  quite  small.  The 
stub  had  for  a long  time  been  dead  and  decayed,  and  has  since  dis- 
appeared. The  other  marks  in  the  woods  were  mostly  of  apparently 
more  recent  date.  An  examination  at  the  point  at  which  the 
Boundary  crosses  Sand  Pond  Brook  Valley  failed  to  develop  any 
thing  more  positive  than  the  remains  of  a yellow  birch  tree,  referred 
to  in  tlie(N.  Y.)  patent  of  lot  number  one  in  the  Delaware  Tract,  as 
the  south-west  corner  of  John  Carpenter’s  Location. 

This  tree  was  undoubtedly  that  marked  by  George  Palmer,  in  his 
temporary  line  of  1784,  as  the  u 2 mile  tree”  and  was,  consequently, 
not  in  the  Boundary  of  1786. 

It  was  quite  plain  to  the  minds  of  all  present  that  nothing  definite 
could  be  settled  upon  as  the  Initial  Point  of  the  Boundary,  and  it 
was  decided  that  the  work  of  retracing  should  be  commenced  with- 
out delay,  and  that  a careful  line  should  be  run  from  a known 
monument  out  to  the  river,  to  approximately  fix  the  Initial  Point. 

At  Hale’s  Eddy,  the  gentlemen  comprising  this  party  separated 
and  returned  to  their  homes,  except  Col.  Gere,  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners of  Pennsylvania,  who  had  been  designated  to  act  as  Surveyor 
on  the  part  of  that  State,  and  myself. 

A party  was  organized  and  active  operations  Tvere  at  once  com- 
menced in  the  field.  The  facilities  of  the  inhabitants  along  the  line 
being  very  limited  as  to  accommodations  for  the  party,  it  was  de- 
cided to  establish  head-quarters  at  hotels  at  convenient  points,  making 
definite  contracts  for  quarters  and  subsistence.  Finding  also  that 
opportunities  for  procuring  adequate  transportation  to  and  from  the 
line  would  be  precarious,  a contract  was  made  soon  after  commenc- 
ing operations,  with  Jacob  Tajdor,  Esq.,  of  Lanesboro,  Penn.,  for  the 
use  of  a suitable  team  and  wagon. 

With  one  or  two  changes  in  the  team,  Mr.  Taylor’s  establishment, 
in  charge  of  the  same  teamster,  was  made  use  of  during  each  season 
in  the  field,  with  the  exception  of  about  a month  in  1879,  until  the 
completion  of  the  Parallel  Boundary  in  1884.* 

We  took  the  field  so  soon  after  my  appointment  that  no  opportu- 
nity was  had  to  examine  Records  or  look  for  any  field-notes,  except 
amung  local  surveyors  in  the  vicinity.  Col.  Gere  had  already  spent 
two  or  three  weeks  upon  the  line,  without  an  instrument,  however, 
and  had  made  some  discoveries. 

The  survey,  as  it  was  commenced,  partook  more  of  the  character 
of  an  exploration  with  compass  and  chain  than  a finished  reconnais- 
sance. The  instrument  used  was  a first-rate  Stackpole  Railroad 
Transit,  which  was  handled  by  myself  altogether  during  the  entire 


*For  the  names  of  all  parties  who  were  connected  with  this  Re-survey  of  the 
Boundary,  see  Appendix  F, 


126 


[Senate 


reconnaissance.  Longitudinal  measurements  were  made  with  a new 
66-foot  steel  chain  divided  into  100  links.  At  the  start,  the  main 
object  was  simply  to  follow  the  line,  which  was  supposed  to  have 
been  carefully  run  originally,  and  to  discover  the  successive  mile- 
stones. No  monuments  being  known  East  of  Milestone  5,  the  first 
step  taken  was  in  running  a random  compass  line  East  from  that 
milestone  upon  a magnetic  variation  assumed  from  the  results  of 
observations  made  by  Mr.  M.  R.  Hulce,  at  Deposit,  several  miles 
north-west.  This  line  was  run  out  to  the  river  and  across  to  the 
bluffs  on  the  opposite  side,  where  an  Astronomical  Station  was  after- 
ward located.  Milestone  3 was  the  only  monument  found  at  this 
time.  Milestone  1 was  not  discovered  until  more  than  two  years 
after. 

From  Milestone  5 westward,  random  compass  lines  were  run  start- 
ing from  the  existing  monuments  as  they  were  successively  found. 
Notes  were  taken  of  all  farm  corners,  and  corner  or  line  stakes,  which 
were  carefully  located  by  offsets. 

A week  or  two  of  such  work  disclosed  the  existence  of  irregulari- 
ties in  the  line  which  even  a compass  could  not  follow.  But  a care- 
ful system  of  compass  randoms  was  continued  to  Milestone  39,  be- 
yond which  the  random  lines  were  all  run  by  transit  without  the  use 
of  the  needle.  The  irregularities  in  the  line  were  more  clearly  de- 
veloped by  the  transit  work,  some  of  them  proving  rather  startling. 
The  portion  of  the  line  which  at  first  was  retraced  with  the  needle, 
wTas  afterward,  in  1879,  entirely  re-surveyed  by  transit. 

The  field-work  for  the  year  1877  closed  a short  distance  west  of 
Milestone  119,  upon  October  19. 

The  Boundary  was  found  to  be  so  crooked  and  irregular  that  it 
was  a constant  problem  to  project  transit  lines  which  would  follow  it 
closely.  When  the  random  line  was  found  to  be  diverging  from  the 
line,  or  where  it  was  deemed  more  convenient  to  work  upon  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Boundary,  the  direction  was  changed  or  the  line 
transferred  by  offsets;  generally  only  one  offset  was  measured,  a rear 
signal  properly  located  in  the  random  line,  was  used  as  a backsight 
for  a new  line,  the  offset  being  measured  at  the  instrument.  Occa- 
sionally both  rear  signal  and  instrument  were  moved,  and  the  offset 
at  each  carefully  measured.  Parallelism  was  rarely  undertaken.  By 
this  means  a close  connection  was  kept  between  all  the  random  lines 
run,  the  angular  deflections  in  direction  being  calculated  from  the 
distances  and  offsets.  This  system  was  carried  on  over  the  entire 
line  upon  the  preliminary  survey.  When  the  ground  was  favorable 
and  the  country  clear,  the  transit  lines  were  some  of  them  quite  long, 
and  the  deflection  points  quite  a distance  apart.  When  the  country 
was  rough  and  covered  with  timber,  the  changes  in  direction  were 
made  with  shorter  backsights  and  smaller  offsets. 

By  carefully  connecting  all  the  monuments,  stakes,  marked  trees, 
etc.,  found,  with  random  lines  by  offsets,  a very  close  traverse  of  the 
Boundary  was  obtained,  and  all  its  irregularities  developed. 


No.  71.] 


127 


Most  of  these  upon  the  eastern  half  of  the  Parallel  Boundary  are 
comparatively  slight,  and  might  be  attributed  to  the  uncertainty  of 
a Compass  as  an  instrument  of  precision.  The  most  apparent  irregu- 
larities will  be  referred  to  in  detail  hereafter. 

The  field-work  in  1878  was  commenced  early  in  June,  and  was 
pushed  forward  until  the  entire  Boundary,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Wilderness  section,  was  covered  by  the  reconnaissance. 

The  Wilderness  section  of  the  Boundary,  between  Milestones  168 
and  183,  was  omitted  by  consent  of  the  Joint  Commission,  in  order 
that  the  Boundary  along  the  more  valuable  and  thickly  settled  country 
west  of  the  Wilderness,  could  all  be  completed  within  the  season. 

The  South-west  Corner  of  New  York  was  reached  the  11th  day  of 
October,  and  turning  north,  the  Meridian  Boundary  was  retraced. 
Upon  the  25th  day  of  October,  the  north  end  of  the  Meridian  at  Lake 
Erie  was  attained,  and  the  wrork  of  the  season  was  suspended. 

The  Wilderness  section  omitted  in  1878,  was  undertaken  and  com- 
pleted in  July  and  August,  1879.  And  later  in  the  same  season  the 
eastern  40  miles,  upon  which  the  compass  was  used  exclusively  in 
the  reconnaissance  of  1877,  was  very  carefully  re-surveyed  with  the 
transit.  Milestone  1 was  found  at  this  time,  some  66  feeDsouth  of 
the  compass  random  of  1877. 

Astronomical  Observations  by  the  United  States  Coast  and 

Geodetic  Survey  ; and  Operations  of  the  New  York  State 

Survey. 

In  order  to  test  the  accuracy  of  the  original  astronomical  location 
of  the  Boundary,  the  Joint  Commission  in  1877  requested  the  Su- 
perintendent of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey  to  undertake  a 
series  of  observations  for  Latitude  at  four  stations  at  various  points. 
Assistant  Edwin  Smith  of  the  Coast  Survey  was  detailed  by  the 
Superintendent  to  make  these  observations.  The  stations  occupied 
in  1877  were  “ Travis,55  near  the  Initial  Point  on  the  Delaware; 
“ Finn,”  near  Milestone  20  in  the  Susquehanna  Valley ; “Burt,55 
between  Milestones  69  and  70,  South-east  of  Elmira  ; and  “ Clark55 
5,480  feet  East  of  the  “ Corner.55  Telegraphic  observations  for 
Longitude  were  also  made  at  the  first  three  of  these  stations. 

In  1879  the  Joint  Commission  decided  to  request  the  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Coast  Survey  to  undertake  a series  of  astronomical 
observations  at  nine  additional  stations  which  were  to  be  located  at 
convenient  points,  to  divide  the  Boundary  approximately  into  Sec- 
tions of  uniform  length.  These  stations  were  : “ Little  Meadows,55 
in  the  Apalachin  Valley,  at  Milestone  39J- ; “ Waverly,”  in  the  vil- 
lage of  that  name  in  the  Chemung  Valley,  860.8  feet  East  of  Mile- 
stone 60  ; “ Lawrenceville,55  at  Milestone  90,  between  the  Tioga  and 
Cowanesqua  .Rivers;  “ Austinburg,55  in  the  valley  of  Troup’s  Creek, 
between  Milestones  109  and  110;  “ Genesee  Valley  55  west  of  the 
Genesee  River,  1,104.85  feet  East  of  Milestone  129  ; “Ceres,55  west 
of  the  village  of  that  name,  in  the  valley  of  Oswayo  River,  near 


128 


[(Senate 


Milestone  149;  “Tuna  Valley”  at  the  Seventh  Latitude  Stone, 
upon  the  flats  west  of  the  Tunaunguant  Creek;  “ Corydon,”  at 
Milestone  184  in  the  Allegany  Valley  ; and  “ Sugar  Grove,”  about  a 
mile  north  of  the  village  of  that  name,  between  Milestones  203  and 
204.  The  observations  at  these  stations  were  all  made  by  Assistant 
Smith.  No  observations  were  made  for  longitude  in  i879.  The 
results  of  the  observations  for  Latitude  and  Longitude  are  given  in 
detail  in  Appendix  D.  Those  stations  which  were  occupied  before 
or  during  the  reconnaissance  were  carefully  connected  with  its  lines. 
A few  of  the  others  were  afterward  located  and  connected  with  the 
lines  of  the  reconnaissance,  before  the  commencement  of  the  final 
work  of  adjustment  in  1881.  At  most  of  the  stations  occupied  in 
1879  the  observing  party  failed  to  leave  permanent  meridians,  so 
that  when  these  stations  were  reached,  their  connection  with  the 
Boundary  could  only  be  made  approximately.  Permanent  meridians 
marked  by  monuments  will  be  found  at  stations  Travis,  Finn,  Little 
Meadows,  Burt  and  Clark. 

The  New  York  State  Survey,  before  its  suspension,  had  extended 
its  system  of  triangles  south  across  the  State  to  the  Boundary,  and 
had  established  Primary  and  Secondary  Stations  adjacent  to  the 
Line  as  far  west  as  Steuben  County.  Several  of  these  stations  are 
situated  in  Pennsylvania.  At  one  point  only  has  this  Survey  yet 
made  a direct  connection  with  the  Boundary.  This  is  at  Station 
Warren  in  the  north-east  corner  of  Bradford  County,  Penn. 
From  this  Station  the  positions  of  Milestones  40,  41,  42  and  43  have 
been  accurately  fixed.  The  results  at  this  Station  are  given  in  Ap- 
pendix D. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  important  public  work  may  be  resumed 
at  an  early  date,  and  that  by  its  means  the  positions  of  all  the  mile- 
stones may  be  as  accuratelv  known. 

Initial  Point.  Its  Probable  Position. 

The  positions  of  these  Stations  formed  a convenient  division  of 
the  Parallel  Boundary  into  Sections  of  about  20  miles,  except  that 
between  Stations  “ Waverly”  and  u Burt,”  which  is  less  than  ten 
miles.  This  division  into  Sections  will  be  made  use  of  in  describing 
the  condition  of  the  Boundary  developed  by  the  reconnaissance,  the 
first  section  extending  from  the  Initial  Point  to  Station  Finn.  At  the 
Initial  Point,  as  was  stated  in  the  outset,  no  vestige  of  the  original 
monuments  was  found.  The  Delaware  River,  where  it  is  intersected 
by  the  Parallel  Boundary,  flows  in  a shallow  current  toward  the 
south-east  after  having  swept  from  the  west  and  north  around  the 
peninsula  which  forms  the  arable  portion  of  u John  Carpenter’s 
Military  Location,”  the  south-east  point  of  Broome  County.  Upon 
its  south-west  bank  are  precipitous  bluffs  at  the  foot  of  a steep  wooded 
mountain  slope.  These  bluffs,  or  the  probable  alluvial  flat  at  their 
base,  being  exposed  to  the  erosive  effects  of  every  freshet  in  the 
stream  within  the  last  hundred  years,  have  beien  gradually  under- 


No.  71.]  129 

mined,  until  the  monument  which  Dr.  Rittenhouse  and  Capt.  Hol- 
land placed  upon  the  right  bank,  tumbled  out  many  years  ago,  and 
has  disappeared. 

This  monument  was  of  blue  stone.  This  is  the  recollection  of 
Mr.  M.  R.  Hulee,  who  had  seen  it  lying  beside  the  River,  when  a 
youth.*  Its  probable  site  is  discussed  farther  on. 

Upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream  are  broad  flats,  between 
which  and  the  bluffs  lies,  for  some  distance,  a bayou.  Near  the 
upper  end  of  the  flats  are  evidences  of  a former  channel  connecting 
the  bayou  with  the  river.  Upon  this  flat,  at  that  time  an  island, 
Messrs.  Rittenhouse  and  Holland  fixed  the  Initial  Point  of  the 
Boundary  in  1774,  setting  a monument  to  mark  the  point,  as  is 
stated  in  their  report  heretofore  quoted.  These  flats  are  swept  by  the 
freshets  of  every  spring,  winch  carry  with  them  ice  and  logs  and 
flood-wood  with  irresistible  force,  and  the  monument  undoubtedly, 
early  disappeared  before  the  glacial  action  of  one  of  these  floods. 
The  action  of  high  water  in  the  river  during  the  past  century  has, 
without  doubt,  materially  changed  the  form  and  appearance  of  the 
islands  and  shores,  so  that  were  the  base  of  the  monument  still  in  exist- 
ence, it  would  be  a difficult  matter  to  find  it,  without  digging  over  a 
considerable  area  of  the  island.  Upon  the  low  point  of  hard  land  which 
projects  to  the  river  bank  just  above  the  island,  Messrs.  Rittenhouse 
and  Holland  probably  set  up  their  Sector  upon  the  “ beech  stump  cut 
high  for  ye  observation.”  From  the  right  bank  of  the  River,  the 
Boundary  passes  quite  diagonally  up  the  steep  mountain  slope  nearly 
to  the  summit,  and  then  down  into  a deep  gorge  upon  the  west  side 
of  which  Milestone  1 was  found  in  1879. 

One  mile  east  of  Milestone  1 is  at  a point  some  distance  from 
high-water  mark  of  the  Delaware  in  the  present  channel,  132  feet 
west  of  its  present  center.  It  may  be  questioned  whether  the  orig- 
inal surveyors  commenced  their  measurements  at  the  monument  on 
the  right  bank,  or  at  the  probable  center  of  the  river.  Judging 
from  the  present  condition  of  things,  not  taking  into  consideration 

* Mr.  Hulee,  who  is  above  the  age  of  80,  and  still  active,  is  a native  of  Deposit 
his  place  of  residence,  about  7 miles  above  the  Initial  Point.  The  latter  locality 
and  all  its  traditions  have  been  familiar  to  him  from  childhood.  In  a letter  since 
this  part  of  the  report  was  written,  he  says,  “ Your  suggestion  that  the  shore  of 
the  right  side  of  the  river  extended  out  some  distance  from  the  base  of  the  steep 
bank  in  1774  is  undoubtedly  correct.  The  flat  then  extended  farther  down  than 
now.  Messrs.  Rittenhouse  and  Holland  say  they  made  a heap  of  stones  at  high- 
water  mark,  and  four  rods  farther  west  set  up  a monument;  this  monument  stood 
near  the  foot  of  the  steep  bank  or  hill,  where  the  river  shore  now  is.  It  was  of 
common  blue  stone.  The  one  on  the  Island  was  of  marble,  brought  up  in  a canoe 
by  Rittenhouse.  * * * * * In  August,  1814,  there  came  an  unprecedented 

flood  in  the  Delaware  River,  which  swept  off  portions  of  alluvial  flats  and  in- 
creased the  width  of  the  river  at  least  one-quarter  of  its  present  width.  The 
flood  washed  away  the  shore  nearly  to  the  second  monument  of  Rittenhouse  and 
Holland.  A slide  of  earth  some  years  after  carried  this  monument  a short 
distance  down  to  near  high-water  mark,  when  F.  Greenman  set  it  up  against  a tree. 
About  fifty  years  ago  Newel  Evans  built  a mill-dam  across  the  river  a short  dis- 
tance below,  and  his  workmen  in  gathering  stone  took  it  and  put  it  in  the  dam, 
as  I was  told  by  one  of  the  party  who  did  it.” 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  17 


130 


[Senate 


any  changes  which  undoubtedly  have  taken  place  in  the  channel  of 
the  river  in  the  past  111  years,  it  would  seem  as  though  the  distances 
were  measured  from  a point  in  the  channel.*  Sketch  No.  7 exhib- 
its the  outlines  of  the  river  banks  and  bluffs  as  they  exist  at  pres- 
ent. From  an  inspection  of  the  sketch,  a clear  idea  may  be  formed 
of  the  possible  change  in  the  line  of  the  channel  since  the  point  was 
fixed.  Compare  with  Sketch  No.  2. 

If  the  south-westerly  bank  of  the  river  was  originally  as  now,  a 
high  bluff  underlaid  with  rock  which  reaches  above  ordinary  high- 
water  mark,  the  freshets  would  have  made  but  a slight  impression 
upon  its  outline.  While  the  flood  is  confined  within  the  banks  of 
the  river,  the  force  of  the  current  as  it  swings  around  the  bend  at 
the  east  end  of  “ Carpenter’s  Location  ” against  the  left  or  easterly 
bank,  is  deflected  to  the  right  and  strikes  the  opposite  shore  just 
above  the  Boundary,  but  the  water  in  this  case  is  not  high  enough 
to  have  a very  marked  effect  upon  the  bluff  as  it  now  stands, 
although  at  a point  above  the  intersection  of  the  Line  the  bluff 
shows  recent  effects  of  the  erosion.  And  right  at  the  intersection 
of  the  Boundary,  since  the  reconnaissance,  there  has  been  consider- 
able slip  in  the  face  of  the  bluff  from  the  undermining  action  of 
the  water.  When  the  freshets  are  at  their  highest,  the  high  water 
spreads  over  the  flats  on  the  left  bank,  and  the  current  is  not  thrown 
with  full  force  against  the  bluffs  on  the  other  side. 

The  main  channel  of  the  stream  undoubtedly,  at  an  early  day,  was 
through  the  present  bayou  north  of  Monument  Island.  In  this  case 
there  was  considerable  flat  land  or  lower  ground  in  front  of  the  bluff 
upon  the  other  bank.  The  current  of  the  river  has  gradually  worn  its 
way  toward  the  right  through  the  alluvial  soil  of  the  flat,  and  silt- 
ing up  its  old  bed,  formed  the  island  upon  which  the  first  monu- 
ment was  placed,  and  at  the  time  the  Initial  Point  was  fixed  (1774) 
a considerable  portion  of  the  flat  may  have  remained  upon  the  right 
bank  in  front  of  the  bluff;  or  the  latter  may  have  sloped  more 
gradually  farther  out  into  the  present  limits  of  the  channel.  This 
must  have  been  the  case.  For,  if  the  right  bank  of  the  river  had 
at  that  time  been  a steep  declivity  as  it  now  is,  its  slope  would 
hardly  have  been  selected  as  the  site  of  the  Initial  Monument  which 
Messrs.  Bittenliouse  and  Holland  say  they  placed  four  perches  from 
the  heap  of  stones  at  high-water  mark.  The  distance  along  the  line 
from  high-water  mark  to  the  top  of  the  bluff,  within  which  there  is 
now  no  stable  site  for  a monument,  is  about  155  feet  — nearly  ten 
perches.  Thus  it  seems  highly  probable  that  the  western  monu- 
ment Was  set  upon  lower  ground,  which  has  since  been  entirely 
worn  away  by  the  river,  and  that  the  ash  tree  which  they  marked  at 
eighteen  perches  farther  west,  was  upon  the  high  ground  near  the 
edge  of  the  present  bluff. 

*In  the  Act  of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature  confirming  the  survey,  an  ab- 
stract from  which  is  given  ur*on  a previous  page  in  this  report,  the  statement  is 
made  that  the  milestones  are  marked  with  their  distances  from  the  stone  on  the 
“small  island.” 


, s 


t 


JOHN  HILLS’  HOUSE. 


Sketch  No.  7. 

Delaware  River 

NEAR  INITIAL  POINT 


ASTRONOMICAL  STATION  TRAVIS. 
"^LATITUDE 42°00' 02166  ±0"  14  N. 
LONGITUDE  75°2I’22"5  W. 


00^WAmimm 


/auuiir//x\\\\\\\\i\i)i|„„A1 


No.  71.] 


131 


The  survey  of  the  north-east  corner  Warrant  of  Pennsylvania 
began  at  the  Monument  on  the  right  bank  of  the  River,  and  the 
distance  of  this  monument  from  George  Palmer’s  “ 2-mile  Birch,” 
according  to  the  various  intermediate  warrant  surveys,  was  6351- 
perches  (158.88  chains  ; 73.9  feet  less  than  two  miles).*  This  dis- 
tance measured  from  the  probable  remains  of  the  “two-mile  birch” 
reaches  into  the  present  channel,  as  shown  in  the  Sketch,  to  a point 
but  23  feet  short  of  one  mile  east  of  Milestone  1 . 

It  is  perhaps  useless  now  to  speculate  upon  the  reason  why  these 
important  monuments  were  placed  in  such  exposed  positions.  Under 
the  present  conditions  monuments  placed  at  corresponding  points 
would  hardly  survive  the  vicissitudes  of  the  first  winter  and  sjDring 

The  entire  country  being  at  that  time  covered  with  forest,  it  is 
probable  that  the  extreme  freshets  of  later  days  were  unknown  and 
that  the  appearance  of  the  banks  indicated  greater  stability  than 
they  have  since  shown. 

Condition  of  the  Boundary  as  Developed  by  the  Reconnais- 
sance. 

Between  Milestone  1 and  Milestone  5 nothing  authentic  was  found. 
The  remnant  of  old  Milestone  3 was  lying  among  the  stone  upon 
the  surface  of  an  abrupt  rocky  slope.  The  line  fences  and  old  cor- 
ners exhibited  an  uncertainty  of  direction  attributable  to  the  de- 
struction of  the  original  marks.  Upon  the  west  side  of  Sand  Pond 
Brookf  flats,  the  land  is  owned  upon  both  sides  of  the  Boundary  by 
one  person,  and  is  not  indicated  by  fences.  Near  the  left  bank  of 
this  stream  are  the  remains  of  the  yellow  birch  which  marks  the 
South-east  corner  of  the  Delaware  Tract.  For  some  distance  in 
either  direction  from  this  the  fences,  when  there  arc  any,  are  proba- 
bly upon  the  Palmer  Line  of  1784. 

The  general  alignment  of  the  First  Section,  as  shown  by  the  mile- 
stones, is  quite  uniform  ; no  very  marked  deflections  being  apparent 
at  the  various  mile  points. 

Milestones  5,  6 and  7 were  found  apparently  undisturbed,  except 
in  the  case  of  the  latter,  which  had  been  badly  shattered  by  the  ac- 
tion of  fire  and  falling  timber.  Between  this  and  Milestone  10  the 
line  through  the  open  woods  was  only  indicated  by  a few  marked 
trees  and  occasional  stakes,  the  Palmer  line,  a short  distance  north, 
being  more  plainly  indicated  where  the  original  timber  is  standing. 

Between  Milestones  11  and  15,  which  were  both  found  in  place, 
the  fence  line  again  exhibited  an  uncertainty  of  purpose,  although 
the  two  monuments  (almost  the  only  intermediate  monuments  in  ex- 
istence) at  the  intersection  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  are  very 

* The  survey  of  John  Carpenter’s  Military  Location  in  New  York  makes  this 
distance  but  150  chains,  which  would  not  reach  down  to  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
tain slope  west  of  the  River.  This  distance  is  probably  erroneous,  and  must  have 
been  intended  as  160  chains. 

f Known  in  the  early  surveys  as  the  “ Little  Kookhoose  River.” 


132 


[Senate 


nearly  in  line  between  the  two  milestones.  From  Milestone  16  to 
19  was  another  blank  interval,  very  fairly  marked,  however,  by  the 
fences.  Milestone  19  seemed  to  have  been  disregarded  by  early  New 
York  surveys  from  the  West,  which  to  within  300  feet  of  the  Mile- 
stone are  marked  by  stakes  and  fences  some  40  feet  south  of  the 
line.  A stone  monument  marking  an  old  Pennsylvania  corner,  165 
feet  west  of  19,  was  found  to  be  within  a foot  of  the  Milestone  line. 
Milestone  20,  upon  the  flats  east  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  was 
not  found. 

Upon  the  Second  Section,  between  Stations  “Finn”  and  “Little 
Meadows,”  the  First  Latitude  Stone  at  20f  miles,  and  Milestones  23, 
26,  33,  36  and  39  were  the  only  original  monuments  found  in  place. 
Four  others  were  found,  but  these  had  been  pulled  up  and  moved 
about,  beyond  the  memory,  of  man.  Other  authentic  points  were 
found,  especially  in  the  long  interval  between  Milestones  26  and  33, 
which  were  afterward  made  use  of  in  adjusting  the  Boundary  along 
this  Section.  These  points  were ; — a stone  pile  upon  the  high 
rocky  summit  west  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  upon  the  probable 
position  of  Milestone  21.  placed  by  County  Commissioners  of 
Susquehanna  County  under  the  supervision  of  Col.  Gere,  several 
years  before  the  reconnaissance  of  the  Boundary,  to  mark  the  corner 
of  the  towns  of  Great  Bend  and  Liberty ; a small  stone  monument 
marking  a Pennsylvania  corner  at  or  near  the  site  of  Milestone  28  : 
and  a large  stone  firmly  set  in  a large  stone  pile  near  the  31  mile 
point,  which  had  for  many  years  been  recognized  as  a “ State  Line 
Monument.” 

At  the  First  Latitude  Stone  there  is  a quite  perceptible  bend  in 
the  Boundary  to  the  right  (north)  and  at  Milestone  21  another,  the 
two  forming  a deflection  of  one  degree.  At  Milestones  28,  31,  33, 
and  35,  the  Boundary  bends  quite  decidedly  the  other  way. 

Upon  the  Third  Section  between  Stations  “ Little  Meadows  ” and 
“ Waverly,”  all  the  Milestones  except  42,  45,  56,  and  58  were  found 
undisputedly  in  place.  Milestone  45  stood  in  the  center  ot  a road 
and  had  been  broken  in  pieces,  but  its  site  was  readily  identified. 
Milestone  54  had  been  broken  down  years  ago  but  had  been  replaced 
with  a more  durable  slab  of  rock.  The  same  may  be  said  of  Milestone 
47.  A substantial  stone  monument  marked  with  a cross,  and  some 
old  field-notes  of  surveys  of  the  Wheeler  Douglass  Military  Location, 
made  before  Milestone  58  was  lost,  made  the  replacement  of  that 
Milestone  a matter  of  no  difficulty. 

At  Milestone  40  upon  the  summit  of  a point  of  a high  hill  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Apalachin  Valley,  a marked  bend  to  the  left  (south) 
occurs  beyond  which  for  the  remainder  of  the  Section,  the  Milestones 
are  in  an  irregular  curve  toward  the  right,  bending  quite  perceptibly 
north  of  west  at  Milestones  54  and  55. 

The  Fourth  and  Fifth  Sections,  between  Stations  Waverly  and 
Lawrenceville  cover  the  ground  of  the  fourth  section  of  the  original 
survey,  and  will  be  considered  together.  Milestone  60,  in  the  heart 


No.  71.] 


133 


of  the  village  of  Waverly,  had  been  dug  up  and  carried  away,  and 
the  exact  line  through  the  village  had  been  a matter  of  dispute. 
Milestones  63  and  64  had  been  pulled  up  and  moved  ; 70,  76,  and  77 
were  entirely  missing ; there  was  some  doubt  about  the  integrity  of 
79  and  80,  although  they  were  dually  accepted  as  in  place.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  Milestone  82,  the  monument  upon  which 
depended  the  surveys  of  millions  of  acres  in  Western  New  York. 
Milestones  83  and  87  had  been  lost,  and  84  and  85  had  been  pulled 
up  and  removed ; and  the  Fourth  Latitude  Stone  upon  the  left  bank 
of  the  Tioga  River  had  been  washed  out  long  since. 

The  line  through  the  village  of  Waverly  was  adjusted  at  once  by 
alignment  between  Milestone  59  and  an  original  monument  at  601- 
miles.  The  line  adopted  was  a curve  having  the  normal  curvature 
of  the  parallel  of  42°.  Monuments  were  set  at  each  street  intersec- 
tion by  the  village  authorities,  and  Milestone  60  was  replaced.  The 
direction  of  the  line  through  the  village  is  North  89°  15'  West  (true) : 
a marked  deflection  to  the  left  occurs  at  60|-  mile  monument  and 
another  to  the  right  at  Milestone  61  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Che- 
mung River,  so  that  the  line  west  of  the  latter  if  prolonged  East, 
would  pass  over  ten  feet  South  of  the  line  through  the  village.  The 
Boundary,  between  Milestones  61  and  89,  consists  of  two  somewhat 
uneven  tangents  joined  between  75  and  81  by  an  irregular  curve 
convex  northward,  flattened  between  Milestones  75  and  78  by  the 
interpolation  of  a strait  line.  At  Milestone  89,  an  abrupt  deflection 
to  the  right  (north),  and  at  the  site  of  the  Fourth  Latitude  Stone,  a 
deflection  to  the  left  take  the  Line  across  the  Cowanescjua  Flats. 
While  the  Boundary  at  either  end  of  the  two  Sections  is  from  70  to 
105  feet  north  of  the  Astronomical  Parallel,  in  the  middle  at  Mile- 
stone 75,  its  latitude  as  deduced  from  Stations  Burt  and  Lawrence- 
ville  is  42°  00'  09".53,  or  965  feet  north  of  the  same  parallel. 

Upon  the  Sixth  Section  the  general  alignment  of  the  Boundary 
is  more  nearly  west,  with  some  irregularities.  At  Milestone  92  an 
abrupt  deflection  to  the  north  occurs,  and  another  nearly  as  great 
at  93. 

Milestones  95  and  102  were  entirely  lost  ; 98  had  been  pulled  up 
and  broken  in  pieces;  100  had  been  washed  out  by  floods  in  a small 
brook ; 107  had  been  displaced  ; and  the  Fifth  Latitude  Stone  had 
been  torn  from  its  place  by  floods  in  Troup’s  Creek. 

No  material  discrepancies  in  the  alignment  are  perceptible  in  the 
line  of  occupation  in  the  vacant  intervals. 

Some  very  marked  unevenness  occurs  upon  the  Seventh  Section 
between  Stations  “ Austinsburg”  and  “ Genesee  Yalley.”  At  Mile- 
stone 117  an  abrupt  bend  to  the  left  (south)  occurs  and  a similar  one 
to  the  right  at  120  ; and  the  line  west  of  the  latter  produced  east 
would  pass  200  feet  south  of  the  Line  east  of  the  former.  From  Mile- 
stone 120  west,  the  Boundary  is  comparatively  even  in  alignment,  with 
a bend  toward  the  right  at  126.  Milestone  111  was  entirely  missing, 
116  had  been  pulled  up  and  moved  about;  but  an  old  Township 


134 


[Senate 


Corner,  a short  distance  west,  and  the  notes  of  Surveys  of  the  Phelps 
and  Gorham’s  Purchase,  afforded  ready  means  for  replacing  it ; Mile- 
stones 118  and  123  had  been  pulled  up  and  left  upon  the  surface  of 
the  ground  , and  126  had  been  dug  out  in  working  a road. 

Upon  the  Eighth  and  Ninth  Sections,  between  Stations  “ Genesee 
Valley  ” and  “"Tuna  Valley,”  and  particularly  the  portion  between 
Milestones  135  and  155,  is  the  most  irregular  portion  of  the  Bound- 
ary, and  upon  the  crooked  portion  occur  a number  of  vacant  inter- 
vals. Upon  this  crooked  portion  also,  in  the  valley  of  the  Honeoye 
Creek  in  the  vicinity  of  Milestone  141,  the  location  of  the  Boundary 
had  been  in  litigation,  and  was  still  practically  unsettled.  There  is 
comparatively  little  unevenness  between  Milestones  129  and  135. 
Milestone  131  had  been  lost  and  133  had  been  plowed  out.  A bend 
to  the  right  (north)  occurs  at  135;  a very  abrupt  crook  to  the  left 
at  136,  and  another  toward  the  right  at  the  Sixth  Latitude  Stone  at 
1365.  miies  West  of  the  latter  monument,  owing  to  a probable 
local  magnetic  error,  the  random  line  of  the  original  Survey  was 
thrown  more  than  a degree  too  far  to  the  South,  resulting  in  the 
enormous  error  at  the  next  correction  station,  of  nearly  five-eighths 
of  a mile.  The  random  line,  owing,  no  doubt,  to  the  local  irregu- 
larities of  the  variation  of  the  needle,  was  crooked  and  the  crooked- 
ness was  reproduced  in  correcting  into  the  final . location. . Sketch 
No.  8 exhibits  on  an  exaggerated  scale  the  condition  ot  this  portion 

of  the  Boundary.  , ^ c 

Milestones  139,  140,  141,  145,  147  and  148  upon  the  Eighth  Sec- 
tion and  149,  150  and  166  upon  the  Ninth  Section  were  entirely 
missing ; 142  had  been  dug  up  in  making  a road,  and  afterward 
broken  in  pieces;  143  was  found,  in  1884,  lying  upon  the  surface  of 
the  ground;  146,  153,  158,  160  and  167  had  been  pulled  up;  145 
was  found  in  place,  in  1884,  after  a protracted  search,  and  lo2  and 
154  were  also  found  the  same  year  at  obscure  points.  A very  abrupt 
bend  to  the  left  (south)  exists  at  Milestone  144,  and  as  great  a bend 
toward  the  right  at  145.  But  one  greater  angle  than  either  of  these 
two  exists  upon  the  line,  that  at  the  Seventh  Latitude  Stone  at  the 
western  extremity  of  the  ninth  section.  Very  perceptiWecrooks 
occur  : to  the  left,  at  148 ; to  the  right,  at  148  and  150 ; to  the  left 
at  153  and  157  ; to  the  right,  at  160 ; to. the  left,  at  161,  and  to  the 
right  a^ain  at  164,  the  intermediate  portions  of  the  Boundary  being 
tolerably  regular.  Devious  and  irregular  fences  at  many  points 
with  duplicate  lines  of  marked  trees  at  others,  added  to  the  original 
uncertainty  of  the  Line. 

Upon  these  sections,  originally  so  crooked  and  with  so  many  va- 
cant intervals,  a number  of  authentic  points  were  identified,  which 
were  afterward  used  in  the  final  adjustment.  These  were:  the 
stump  of  an  original  marked  tree  east  of  Milestone  131 ; the  monu- 
ment at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  Holland  Land  Company  s Pur- 
chase ; a witnessed  stake  at  the  District  Corner  (Penn.),  the  probable 
site  of  Milestone  140 ; a section  corner  west  of  141 ; a stone  monu 


No.  71.] 


135 


ment  marking  a Holland  Land  Company’s  Section  Corner  upon  the 
Oswayo  Flats,  14  chains  10  links  East  of  Milestone  118;  the  founda- 
tion of  a church,  the  north  face  of  which  was  placed  3 feet  south 
of  the  line,  in  the  village  of  Ceres,  a short  distance  east  of  Milestone 
119  ; an  old  corner-marked  elm  west  of  Milestone  150,  and  an  ancient 
marked  Hemlock  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  Allegany  River  near 
153.  At  the  Seventh  Latitude  Stone,  the  western  extremity  of  the 
Section,  the  Boundary  deflects  to  the  left  (south)  1°  IF,  the  great- 
est crook  at  any  one  point  upon  the  Parallel  Boundary. 

Upon  the  Tenth  Section,  after  passing  the  Seventh  Latitude  Stone, 
the  line  is  very  nearly  straight  to  Milestone  171,  where  there  is  a 
deflection  to  the  right  (north)  of  about  one  degree,  beyond  which,  to 
Milestone  179,  the  general  direction  is  slightly  south  of  west  with 
some  unevenness  of  alignment.  At  Milestones  179,  180  and  181, 
the  line  gradually  bends  to  the  north  of  west  by  deflections  of  30  to 
44'.  This  Section  covers  the  Wilderness  portion  omitted  in  the  re- 
connaissance of  1878.  Milestones  169,  170  and  177  had  entirely 
disappeared,  and  174  had  lost  its  status.  The  remainder  of  the  Mile- 
stones were  accepted  as  in  place.  Two  of  the  mile  points  of  the 
Holland  Land  Company’s  Survey  were  identified  by  means  of  the 
original  witness  trees,  all  of  which  were  standing  about  one  of  the 
points,  and  two  remaining  at  the  other.  These  points  were  the  3 
mile  post  upon  the  south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  7,  and  the 
south-west  corner  of  the  same  township.  From  these,  by  means  of 
the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Field-Notes,  the  positions  of  Milestones 
174  and  177  were  afterward  fixed. 

The  close  proximity,  at  the  south,  of  Brady’s  Warrant  line  had 
contributed  to  the  obscurity  of  the  State  Line  between  Mile- 
stones 177  and  183,  and,  in  consequence,  the  intermediate  milestones 
had  been  entirely  lost  sight  of  until  discovered  by  the  County  line 
Commission  in  1873.  This  obscurity  may  have  been  the  means  of 
their  preservation. 

Along  the  Eleventh  Section,  from  Station  Cory  don,  the  line 
passes,  with  a few  minor  intervening  irregularities,  with  marked 
bends  to  the  left  (south)  at  Milestones  185,  189,  191  and  192,  and 
toward  the  right  at  194.  At  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  at  195^ 
miles,  a deflection  of  about  one  degree  to  the  left  occurs,  and  at"  199 
another  to  the  right  of  about  the  same  amount. 

Upon  this  Section  only  Milestones  184,*  188,  189,  192,  200  and 
203  and  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  were  found  in  place.  The  dis- 
placed remnants  of  Milestones  185,  186,  187,  190,  191,  195,  196, 
197  and  201  were  found  lying  upon  the  ground. 

Several  other  authentic  points  were  identified,  which  were  after- 
ward used  in  adjusting  the  Boundary  upon  some  of  the  vacant  inter- 
vals. These  points  were  : — the  4 Mile  Post  upon  the  south  line  of 

* Milestone  184  was  a stone  set  up  by  the  McKean  and  Warren  County  Line 
Commission  in  1873  No  original  milestone  was  ever  known  at  this  point.  The 
stone  set  up  in  1873  was  accepted,  after  a careful  investigation 


136 


[Sknate 


Township  1,  Range  10, 1107.75  feet  west  of  Milestone  191,  located  in 
1370,  by  O.  JD.  llinckley,  from  an  original  witness  tree ; the  sand- 
stone monument  set  by  x\.  T.  Prendergast  in  1871,  at  the  194  mile 
point  ;*  and  the  2J  mile  post  upon  the  south  line  of  Township  1, 
Range  11,  286. 1 feet  East  of  Milestone  199,  located  by  Mr.  Hinck- 
ley in  1870,  from  an  original  witness  tree. 

Upon  this  section,  an  extraordinary  discrepancy  in  distance  in  the 
original  survey  was  discovered.  It  was  first  noticed  in  inspecting 
the  field-notes  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  surveys  across  the 
south  end  of  Range  10  (the  east  range  of  Chautauqua  County)  which 
was  laid  out  six  miles  wide,  none  of  the  milestones  are  noted  in  the 
Company’s  Field  Book.  Upon  the  south  end  of  Range  9,  Milestone 
189  was  located  1372.8  feet  east  from  the  south-west  corner.  On  the 
south  line  of  Range  11,  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  at  195J  miles  is 
noted  as  771.5  feet  we^t  of  the  south-east  corner  of  the  Range. 
Thus  these  monuments  which  purported  from  their  marks  to  be  6 
miles  660  feet  apart,  seemed  to  be  6 miles  2144.3  feet.  Upon  the 
reconnaissance  this  was  confirmed.  The  distance  between  these  two 
monuments  measured  6 miles  2143.3  feet,  a very  close  agreement 
with  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  measurements.  Milestone  192, 
the  only  one  in  place  upon  the  south  end  of  Range  10,  was  found  in 
1878.  Its  distance  from  189  is  3 miles  376.5  feet,  still  leaving  be- 
tween 192  and  195,  the  extravagant  surplus  of  1106.8  feet  across 
the  Conewango  Yalley,  the  fiats.in  which  at  the  time  the  line  was 
run  were  covered  by  a dense  black  ash  swamp. 

The  Twelfth  Section,  from  Station  Sugar  Grove  to  the  “Corner,” 
was  found  almost  entirely  deficient  in  original  monuments,  Milestones 
204  and  208  being  the  only  ones  remaining.  A number  of  other 
authentic  points  were  found  which  were  afterward  accepted  and  used 
in  adjusting  the  Boundary  along  this  Section.  These  were: — a sleigh- 
shoe  driven  to  mark  the  corner  of  two  Willink  warrants  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  site  of  Milestone  205  ; the  remains  of  ancient  stakes  which 
for  years  have  marked  a warrant  corner,  the  site  of  Milestone  207  ; 
the  3 mile  post  upon  the  south* line  of  Township  1 of  Range  13,  a 
short  distance  east  of  Milestone  210,  located  from  original  witness 
trees  identified  in  1870,  by  Mr.  Hinckley  ; a stake  and  stones  upon 
the  site  of  Milestone  212  making  a Willink  (Penn.)  warrant  corner; 
a Holland  Land  Company’s  section  corner  stake  696.1  feet  west  of 
Milestone  215,  set  many  years  ago  from  the  original  witnesses;  an- 
other Section  Corner  529.4  feet  west  of  Milestone  218,  the  original 

*The  late  Judge  Foote  of  Jamestown,  in  a letter  to  Secretary  Woolwortli  in 
1868,  says:  “The  State  Line  between  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.,  and  Warren 
County,  Pa.,  passes  within  about  8 miles  of  this  village,  and  on  the  old  stage-road 
from  this  to  Warren,  Pa.,  as  I have  travelled  over  that  road  from  time  to  time 
for  more  than  53  years  I knew  when  1 passed  the  line,  although  in  native 
woodland  by  a certain  white  oak  tree  on  the  east  side  of  the  road”  [near  the  164 
mile  pointj.  “ That  tree  is  dead  aud  nearly  gone  with  its  many  marks  upon  it, 
and  soon  no  trace  of  3t  will  remain 

“ I could  relate  many  comical  anecdotes  of  persons  fleeiug  past  that  point  to  the 
‘ City  of  Refuge.’  with  an  officer  in  pursuit,  especially  before  the  law  for  non-im- 
prisonment for  debt  was  enacted.” 


No.  71.] 


137 


witnesses  to  which  are  still  standing ; and  the  mile  post  upon  the 
south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  15,  2002.4  feet  west  of  Milestone 
219,  located  from  the  stump  of  an  original  witness  identified  by  Mr. 
Hinckley,  some  years  before  his  official  reconnaissance  of  this  portion 
of  the  Boundary. 

For  nearly  the  entire  length  of  the  Section,  owing  to  the  loss  of 
the  original  monuments,  the  devious  fences  showed  a remarkable  de- 
gree of  uncertainty  at  many  points.  In  the  vicinity  of  Milestone 
214,  the  location  of  the  line  had  been  for  years  the  subject  of  bitter 
litigation.  This  uncertain  condition  afforded  a very  fair  opportunity 
in  the  final  adjustment,  by  the  use  of  the  few  authentic  points  iden- 
tified, to  reduce  the  general  alignment  to  a few  long  straight  lines, 
one  of  which,  west  of  Milestone  219,  is  the  longest  upon  the  entire 
Parallel. 

The  following  is  a recapitulation  of  the  situation  in  which  the 
Parallel  Boundary  was  found,  so  far  as  the  original  monuments  were 
concerned : 


Milestones  in  place  and  undisputed. 122 

Milestones  found  removed  from  tlieir  places  and  in  various  stages  of  dilapida- 
tion  37 

Milestones  entirely  missing 65 

Latitude  Stones  in  place  (two  broken  down) 5 

Latitude  Stone  found  out  of  place  (broken) 1 

Latitude  Stones  entirely  missing 2 

Holland  Company’s  monuments  in  place 3 

Holland  Company’s  monuments  missing 1 

Other  intermediate  monuments  found  in  place 3 

Initial  Monuments  gone 2 


241 


Intermediate  monuments  may  have  been  placed  at  the  second  aud 
third  intersections  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  but  they  have  entirely 
disappeared.  Of  the  milestones  found  in  place  at  least  25  had  been 
more  or  less  broken,  some  of  them  quite  badly  shattered,  and  three 
others  had  been  so  broken  that  at  some  time  interested  parties  had 
replaced  them  with  better  stones. 

In  general  along  the  entire  Parallel  the  distances  between  the 
milestones  is  in  excess  of  one  mile.  There  is  no  uniformity  in  the 
amount  of  the  surplus,  except  on  a few  short  sections.  In  a few  of 
the  intervals  the  distances  are  a little  less  than  one  mile,  and  in  a few 
others  the  variation  from  a mile  is  but  trifling.  * The  shortest  inter- 
val,— between  Milestones  152  and  153 — is  5017.7  feet,  and  the 
longest  interval,  except  the  intervals  between  Milestone  192  and  the 
Eighth  Latitude  Stone,  is  5513  feet  between  Milestones  180  and  181. 
This  irregularity  in  distance  made  it  very  difficult  to  find  many  of 
the  original  milestones  in  obscure  localities.  The  search  for  Mile- 
stone 145  was  a notable  instance.  It  was  not  found  upon  the  recon- 
naissance. From  the  talk  of  residents  in  the  vicinity  during  the  final 
adjustment  in  1884,  it  was  supposed  to  be  still  in  existence  From 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  18 


138  [Senate 

the  peculiar  condition  of  the  recognized  Line  it  was  quite  necessary 
that  it  should  be  found  ; without  it,  a portion  of  the  Boundary  would 
possibly  have  to  be  changed  over  a hundred  feet  from  its  traditional 
location.  Its  place  was  upon  a steep  hillside  covered  with  old  fallen 
trees,  and  upturned  roots  of  windfalls  of  an  early  date ; a few  old 
dead  trees  standing,  interspersed  with  saplings,  bushes  and  young 
trees,  a very  unpromising  locality.  A careful  inspection  of  the 
marks  on  the  few  remaining  old  trunks  limited  the  site  to  a com- 
paratively small  space  which  was  carefully  examined  by  the  entire 
party  for  over  an  hour,  with  final  success,  the  monument  having 
been  broken  down  and  entirely  buried  by  a fallen  tree. 

The  distance  from  the  Initial  Point  of  1786  to  the  “ Corner  ” by 

the  Milestones  is 224.81  miles 

Chained  distance  (1877-8)  from  the  probable  position 
of  the  Initial  Monument  -f-  1 mile  (East  of  Mile 
stone  1) 226.84  do 


Thus  the  measured  distance  from  the  Delaware  to  the  u Corner  ” 
is  two  miles  in  excess  of  the  distance  as  indicated  by  the  Milestones 
The  distance  between  Station  Travis  and  the  Meridian  Boundary, 
deduced  from  the  Astronomical  results  of  the  Coast  Survey  observa- 
tions-at  the  former  Station  and  the  Lake  Survey  Longitude  of  the  mon- 
ument at  the  north  end  of  the  Meridian  Boundary  is  226.82  miles. 
The  chained  distance  is 227.13  do 


Milestone  40  is  the  farthest  point  East  yet  fixed  geodetically.  This 
was  done  in  1882  by  the  New  York  State  Survey  by  connection 
with  the  U.  S.  Lake  Survey  System  of  triangles.*  The  Geodetic 
distance  West  from  this  Milestone  to  the  “Corner,”  the  position  of 
the  latter  being  derived  from  the  U.  S.  Lake  Survey  Longitude,  is 
186.16  miles;  chained  distance  1877-9,  186.31  miles;  original 
distance  by  the  Milestones,  D4.84  miles. 

Discussion  by  the  Commissioners  of  the  Proper  Method  of 

Adjustment. 

The  reconnaissance  of  the  entire  Boundary  being  completed,  and 
the  line  being  found  to  vary  quite  materially  at  many  points  from 
the  parallel  of  Latitude  along  which  it  was  supposed  to  have  been 
run,  the  subject  of  the  final  adjustment  and  permanent  marking  of 
the  Boundary  was  considered  by  the  Joint  Commission.  This 
involved  the  question  of  the  power  of  the  Joint  Commission  to  cor- 
rect the  errors  of  the  original  survey  : and  of  the  policy  of  a change 
in  the  line  however  erroneous  it  might  be,  after  having  been 
accepted  as  a Boundary  line  by  both  States,  for  more  than  ninety 
years,  without  question. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York  by  the  following  “ Act  to  provide 


* See  Appendix  D. 


ERRATUM. 


Line  15  should  read  : “of  the  Initial  Monument  (1  Mile  East  of 
Milestone  1).” 


No.  71.] 


139 


for  the  settlement  of  the  Boundary  lines  between  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  respectively,” 
passed  May  20,  1880,  stated  the  position  of  that  state  upon  the 
subject. 

“ Section  1.  Whereas,  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  the 
twenty-sixth  day  of  May,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-five,  the 
Regents  of  the  University  were  authorized  and  directed,  ‘ in  con- 
nection with  the  authorities  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey, 
respectively,  to  replace  any  monuments  which  have  become  dilapi- 
dated or  been  removed,  on  the  boundary  lines  ot  those  States  ; ’ and, 
whereas,  from  the  examination  made  by  said  Regents  it  has  been 
found  that  said  monuments,  as  located  by  tne  original  joint  commis- 
sioners, do  not  conform  in  all  cases  to  the  verbal  descriptions  of  said 
lines,  and  questions  have  arisen  between  the  Commissioners  of  said 
States  as  to  the  proper  location  of  said  monuments  ; therefore,  it  is 
hereby  declared  that  the  lines  originally  laid  down  and  marked  with 
monuments  by  the  several  Joint  Commissions  duly  appointed  for 
that  purpose,  and  which  have  since  been  acknowledged  and  legally 
recognized  by  the  several  States  interested,  as  the  limits  of  their 
territory  and  jurisdiction,  are  the  Boundary  lines  of  said  States,  irre- 
spective of  want  of  conformity  to  the  verbal  descriptions  thereof. 

“ § 2.  Said  Regents  are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  desig- 
nate and  appoint  three  of  their  number  as  Commissioners  to  meet 
such  Commissioners  as  have  been  or  may  be  appointed  and  vested 
with  similar  powers,  on  the  part  of  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  or  either  of  them,  and  with  such  last-mentioned  Com- 
missioners, as  soon  as  may  be,  to  proceed  to  ascertain  and  agree 
upon  the  location  of  said  lines  as  originally  established  and  marked 
with  monuments  ; and  in  case  any  monuments  are  found  dilapidated 
or  removed  from  their  original  location,  said  Commissioners  are 
authorized  to  renew  or  replace  them  in  a durable  manner,  in  their 
original  positions  and  to  erect  such  additional  monuments  at  such 
places  on  said  lines  as  they  may  deem  necessary  for  the  proper  desig 
nation  of  the  boundary  lines  of  said  States.  The  said  Regents  shall 
report  the  action  of  said  Commissioners  to  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  for  its  consideration  and  ratification.”  * 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Law,  the  Board  of 
Regents  designated  the  members  of  the  Boundary  Committee  as  the 
Commission  to  carry  out  its  instructions. 

A copy  of  the  law,  with  the  action  of  the  Board  of  Regents,  was 
transmitted  to  the  Commissioners  from  Pennsylvania,  and  corre- 
spondence ensued  between  the  chairmen  of  the  two  commissions. 

[The  letters  which  passed  between  Col.  Worrall  and  Chancellor 
Pierson  are  given  in  full  in  the  report  of  the  Commissioners,  which 
prefaces  this  report.] 

The  New  York  Commissioners  reported  in  January,  1881,  to  the 
Board  of  Regents  as  follows  : 

* Chapter  340,  Laws  of  1880. 


T4o 


[Senate 


“ Tho  Commissioners,  appointed  under  chapter  340  of  the  Laws 
of  1880,  on  the  Boundary  lines  between  the  State  'of  New  York 
and  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  respectively,  sub- 
mit to  the  Board  of  Begents  the  following  report : 

“The  purpose  of  the  law,  under  which,  this  Commission  was  ap- 
pointed, appears  plainly  to  have  been , first,  to  make  an  authoritative 
declaration  as  to  the  principles  on  which  the  settlement  of  these 
Boundary  lines  must  be  effected,  and  secondly , to  provide  for  the 
appointment  of  Commissioners  with  adequate  authority  to  effect 
this  settlement.  The  duty  of  the  Commission  is,  therefore,  to  take 
up  the  work  carried  on  by  the  Joint  Commissioners  authorized  by 
chapter  424  of  the  Laws  of  1875,  and  which  was  fully  detailed  in 
the  report  of  the  New  York  Commissioners,  transmitted  by  the 
Board  to  the  last  Legislature. 

“ It  seemed  appropriate,  however,  that  the  Pennsylvania  Com- 
missioners should  be  informed  of  the  new  action  of  the  New  York 
Legislature,  and  of  the  re-appointment  of  the  old  Commissioners,  to 
act  under  the  new  law.  Accordingly  a copy  of  the  act  of  1880  was 
transmitted  to  Col.  Worrall,  as  well  as  the  report  of  Major  Clarke, 
the  surveyor  who  had  been  employed  to  make  the  examination  of 
the  Boundary  line. 

“ The  further  correspondence  on  this  subject  is  herewith  submit- 
ted. It  indicates  a fundamental  divergence  in  opinion,  as  to  the 
further  steps  to  be  taken  in  the  settlement  of  the  Boundary.  The 
Pennsylvania  Commissioners  favor  the  establishment  of  a line  by 
rigorously  scientific  methods,  on  the  42nd  parallel.  This  would 
constitute  in  fact  a new  Boundary,  differing  in  its  entire  length  from 
that  which  was  run  by  the  joint  commissioners  in  1786  and  1787, 
and  which  has  since  been  the  recognized  partition  line.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  act  of  the  New  York  Legislature,  above  referred  to, 
declares  the  whole  line  to  be  the  true  and  only  Boundary,  irrespect- 
ive of  its  want  of  conformity  to  the  verbal  description,  and 
authorizes  the  Commissioners  to  ascertain  the  location  of  the  lines 
as  originally  run,  and  to  renew  and  replace  the  monuments  thereon. 

“The  New  York  Commissioners  have  deemed  it  their  duty  in  re- 
plying to  the  chairman  of  the  Pennsylvania  Commissioners  to  enter 
somewhat  at  length  into  the  subject,  and  to  explain  the  very  de- 
cided and  unequivocal  position  which  the  State  of  New  York  has 
taken.  It  is  hoped  that  from  this  discussion  may  be  developed  some 
common  ground  for  the  two  States,  and  that  the  Legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania may  take  such  action  as  wjll  enable  the  question  to  be  settled.” 

The  following  Documents  were  also  submitted  with  this  report. 
Copies  of  them  had  been  previously  forwarded  to  Col.  Worrall. 

“ Office  of  the  Begents,  Albant,  Dec.  20,  1880. 
“James  T.  Gardiner,  Esq.,  Director  of  the  State  Survey : 

“ Dear  Sir — Questions  having  arisen  in  the  Joint  Commission 
on  the  Boundary  line  between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  as  to  the 


No.  71.] 


141 


principles  to  be  followed  in  restoring  said  lines,  the  New  York 
Commission  respectfully  request  that  you  will  furnish  them  with 
such  information,  as  your  experience  may  suggest,  as  to  the  rules 
which  have  governed  the  marking  out  on  the  ground,  and  the  re- 
storing when  partially  lost,  of  boundaries  between  the  States  of  the 
United  States,  and  between  the  United  States  and  other  countries, 
when  such  boundaries  are  described  by  parallels  of  latitude;  and 
also  as  to  the  feasibility  of  surveying  and  marking  a line  so  that  it 
can  always  be  found  with  ease  and  precision. 

u The  importance  to  the  State  of  adopting  a true  policy  in  regard 
to  this  question  is  my  excuse  for  giving  you  this  trouble. 

“ Respectfully  yours, 

“ HENRY  R,  PIERSON,  Chairman” 


“ New  York  State  Survey,  Office  of  the  Director,  ) 
Albany,  December  21,  1880.  j 

“ To  theHonoraoie  Henry  R.  Pierson,  Chairm.an  of  the  New  York 
Comrnission  on  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  Boundary 
Line : 

“ Dear  Sir — In  response  to  your  inquiries  for  information,  as  to 
the  rules  which  have  governed  the  marking  out  on  the  ground,  or 
restoring  when  partially  lost,  of  boundaries  between  the  States  and 
Territories  of  the  United  States,  and  between  the  United  States  and 
other  countries,  wdien  such  boundaries  are  described  as  parallels  of 
latitude,  and  in  answer  to  your  question  as  to  the  feasibility  of  mark- 
ing and  surveying  a line,  so  that  it  can  always  be  found  with  ease  and 
precision,  I have  the  honor  to  reply,  that  every  State  and  Terri- 
tory of  the  Union,  except  two,  is  partially  bounded  in  descriptions, 
be  they,  decrees,  laws  or  agreements,  by  parallels  of  latitude,  and 
that  only  one  general  method  has  been  employed  in  defining  these 
parallels  upon  the  ground,  so  far  as  I have  been  able  to  learn  their 
history ; that  there  is  therefore  a perfectly  settled  usage,  by  which 
commissioners  and  surveyors  of  State  and  territorial  boundaries 
have  interpreted  the  words  £ parallel  of  latitude,’  occurring  in  de- 
scriptions of  boundaries  ; that  this  uniform  method  of  interpretation 
has  been  repeatedly  ratified  by  the  States  and  General  Government, 
and  established  by  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  ; that  in  restoring  old  lines  practice  has  long  ago  settled  upon 
certain  methods  as  being  in  the  whole  fairest ; and  lastly,  that  it  is 
perfectly  within  the  means  of  trigonometrical  surveying  to  fix  the 
position  of  any  line  so  that  it  may  always  be  easily  and  accurately 
found. 

“All  public  boundaries  on  parallels  have  in  this  country  been  run 
by  determining  astronomically  certain  points  on  the  astronomical  par- 
allel, and  then  attempting  to  run  straight  lines  between  the  points 


142 


[Senate 


so  fixed.  The  resulting  line  is  invariably  and  necessarily  crooked. 
Every  State  or  United  States  boundary  laid  down  on  maps  as  a 
straight  east  and  west  line  is  really  crooked  on  the  ground. 

“ The  first  cause  of  this  is  the  fact  that  it  is  not  within  the  power 
of  astronomy  to  fix  points  exactly  east  and  west  of  one  another , 
owing  principally  to  the  deflection  of  the  plumb-line  from  the  vertical 
by  the  unequal  density  of  the  earth’s  crust.  This  source  of  error 
cannot  be  overcome.  It  amounts  often  to  hundreds  of  feet.  The 
stations  fixed  by  astronomical  observation,  as  on  a given  parallel  of 
latitude,  are  therefore  not  in  a straight  line,  or  arc  of  a circle,  but  a 
line  running  through  them  is  always  crooked. 

“ Another  source  of  error  is  in  attempting  to  run  straight  lines  be- 
tween the  astronomical  stations.  These  are  always  more  or  less  bent, 
depending  upon  the  refinement  of  method  employed  in  alignment.  1 
have  examined  the  results  of  the  recent  reconnaissance  of  the  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania  Boundary,  and  am  prepared  to  say,  that  both 
in  straightness  and  in  approximation  to  the  parallel,  it  compares 
very  favorably  with  similar  boundaries  of  other  States  and  Territo- 
ries, both  east  and  west.*  It  is  not  unusually  crooked,  and  it  is  un- 
usually near  its  true  parallel.  It  probably  conforms  to  its  legal  de- 
scription as  nearly  as  any  similar  boundary  in  the  United  States. 

“ Since  this  Boundary  was  fixed  by  the  method  always  employed  in 
laying  out  boundaries  described  as  parallel,  and  since  the  work  was 
of  the  best  quality  of  its  day,  therefore,  according  to  all  precedent 
and  legal  ruling,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  line  marked  on  the 
ground  by  our  Commissioners  in  1786  and  1787  is  the  bounding  line 
between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  Every  effort  should,  there- 
fore, be  made  to  restore  this  line.  In  such  cases  the  practice  is  to 
use  landmarks  and  all  available  testimony  to  recover  as  many  points 
on  the  line  as  possible,  and  then  to  connect  these  with  straight  lines. 
This  method  was  adopted  in  the  final  settlement  of  the  boundary 
between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  and  with  all  other 
cases  with  which  I am  familiar.  In  the  case  of  the  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania  Boundary,  I see  no  reason  for  departing  from  this  well- 
established  practice. 

“ When  the  line  has  been  thus  settled,  it  can  be  permanently  pre- 
served by  marking  every  angle  with  a granite  post,  and  with  under- 
ground marks  not  readily  found  except  by  surveyors.  Every  monu- 
ment should  then  be  connected  with  the  triangulation  of  the  State 
Survey,  whose  stations  on  the  neighboring  hills  will  command  the  line, 
and  from  these  State  Survey  stations  any  portion  on  the  Boundary 
could  be  recovered,  even  if  all  visible  trace  of  the  boundary  monu- 

* Assistant  Edwin  Smith,  of  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey,  iu 
reporting-  liiS  observations  of  Latitude  in  1879  says:  “ They  show  a surprising 
degree  of  accuracy  in  the  survey  of  the  line  by  Rittenliouse  in  1787.  Ilis  party 
must  have  cut  their  way  through  the  woods.  The  line  was  run  with  a compass, 
and  the  instruments  used  to  determine  latitudes  must  have  been  inferior  in  con- 
struction as  compared  with  those  now  employed.”  U.  S.  C.  & G.  Report,  1880, 
p.  18. 


No.  71.  J 


143 


ments  was  removed.  The  triangulation  of  the  N.  Y.  State  Survey  will 
reach  the  Pennsylvania  Boundary  in  the  year  1881,  and  will  be  ex- 
tended along  it.  When  this  is  done  the  crookedness  of  the  line 
presents  no  obstacle  to  its  being  accurately  surveyed  and  mapped, 
and  it  will  oe  so  connected  with  reference  points,  set  by  the  State 
Survey,  that  no  part  of  the  line  can  never  again  be  lost. 

“ Very  respectfully  yours, 

“ J AMES  T.  GARDINER, 

“ Director  N.  F,  /State  Survey .” 


“New  York  and  Pennsylvania  Boundary  Survey,  [ 
Syracuse,  January  8,  1881.  j 

Hon.  H.  R.  Pi  erson,  Chairman  of  the  Boundary  Commission  of 
the  Regents  of  the  University  of  New  York : 

“Sir  — In  response  to  your  note  of  31  Dec.,  I have  the  honor  to 
submit  the  following  memoranda. 

“ The  scientilic  and  legal  objections  to  an  entirely  new  line  have 
been  discussed  elsewhere,  and  by  other  gentlemen. 

“ Th z practical  obstacles  in  the  way  of  an  adjustment  of  the  Bound- 
ary upon  a new  line,  however  accurate  or  perfect,  arise  in  the  oppo- 
sition on  the  part  of  residents  and  property  owners,  to  a change  in 
a line  which  for  nearly  a century  has  been  accepted  as  the  correct 
boundary  of  farms  and  communities.  Instances  are  rare,  and  the 
intervals  short,  where  proprietors  own„ad joining  lands  in  both  States, 
and  have  disregarded  the  Boundary  as  a division  line.  And  in  each 
one  of  these  cases  the  Boundary  forms  the  legal  bound  of  separate 
premises  in  each  State. 

“ From  my  intercourse  with  the  inhabitants  upon  the  debatable 
ground,  I am  convinced  that,  although  the  parties  directly  affected 
by  a change  in  the  line  might  generally  acquiesce  in  the  change,  if 
made  by  competent  authority,  for  the  same  reason  that  they  would 
submit  to  any  arbitrary  act  of  law,  most,  if  not  all  of  them,  are  cer- 
tainly unfavorably  disposed  toward  the  change  for  the  following, 
among  other  reasons : — 

“First.  It  will  still  leave  in  an  unsettled,  and  at  many  points 
unsatisfactory,  condition  the  old  line  which  has  for  years  formed, 
arid  will  continue  to  form,  a portion  of  their  farm  boundaries,  and 
which  at  points  even  the  most  arbitrary  settlement  would  be  satis- 
factory. Were  the  maximum  change  but  a few  feet,  the  new  line 
in  time  might  gradually  be  accepted  as  the  true  land  boundary,  and 
the  old  line  obliterated.  In  the  actual  situation  of  the  case  such  an 
adjustment  would  be  impossible,  the  variations  being  too  great. 
The  line  as  originally  run  formed  the  base  line  for  nearly  all  the 
land  surveys  in  both  States,  and  deeds  and  descriptions  depend  upon 
it  or  refer  to  it. 


[Senate 


144 

“Second.  While  in  a few  rare  instances,  as  in  two  or  three  cases 
in  the  village  of  South  Waverly,  Penn.,  and  in  Ceres,  JS.  Y.,  the 
entire  area  of  a party's  possessions  may  be  transferred  from  one 
State  to  the  other,  throughout  the  entire  Boundary  beside,  a new 
Boundary  would  divide  the  farms  and  premises  it  would  intersect. 
This  would  subject  each  owner,  upon  a portion  of  his  property,  to 
assessment  and  other  sumptuary  laws  entirely  different  from  those 
under  which  he  has  perhaps  always  lived.  His  land  will  be  taxed 
under  two  different  systems,  paying  a portion  of  his  taxes  into  the 
treasury  of  a town  or  county  in  which  lie  has  no  interest,  aside  from 
the  fact  that  a few  acres  of  his  land  have  been  arbitrarily  annexed 
to  its  territory.  He  will  also,  of  necessity,  be  required  to  perfect 
his  title  in  two  clerks’  offices  instead  of  one.  As  a peculiar  example 
of  the  hardship  such  a state  of  affairs  might  entail  upon  parties 
affected  by  a change,  I will  refer  to  the  village  of  Lawrenceville, 
Tioga  County,  Penn.,  at  Milestone  90.  The  present  Boundary, 
which  is  well  marked  by  monuments  and  undisputed,  forms  the  rear 
line  of  a row  of  village  lots  for  about  three-fourths  mile,  which 
front  South  upon  a street  parallel  with  the  Boundary.  The  Astro- 
nomical Parallel,  as  determined  at  that  point  in  1879,  passes  through 
the  front  part  of  all  these  lots,  and  perhaps  intersects  most  of  the 
houses. 

“ In  one  instance  however  a change  might  be  more  favorably 
received.  The  present  Boundary  passing  through  the  little  village 
of  Ceres,  between  the  148  and  149  mile  points,  intersects  an  extensive 
lumber  mill  and  a large  grist  mill.  Here  frequently  occur  disputes 
over  assessments  in  two  communities,  which  are  a fair  example  of 
what  may  arise  at  many  points  along  the  Boundary,  if  a new  line  be 
established.  The  proprietor  of  these  establishments  frequently 
expressed  himself  in  hopes  that  a.  new  line,  if  one  should  be  fixed, 
would  place  his  property  entirely  in  one  State  or  the  other,  he  was 
indifferent  which.  It  would  relieve  him  and  the  town  officers  on 
both  sides  from  frequent  embarrassment.  A new  line,  however, 
especially  if  laid  along  the  Astronomical  Parallel,  would  fail  to  en- 
tirely relieve  him,  although  it  would  place  the  most  valuable  part  of 
his  property,  the  mills  themselves,  all  in  Pennsylvania. 

“ Third.  It  would  in  many  instances  transfer  the  residence  of 
parties,  involuntarily,  from  a State  whose  laws  and  customs  they 
have  been  familiar  with  for  years,  to  one  in  which  the  laws  and 
customs  are  materially  different.  It  would  remove  them  and  their 
families  arbitrarily  into  new  communities. 

“ As  the  surface  of  the  earth  along  the  Boundary  is  so  broken,  the 
beauties  of  an  accurate  line  will  be  hardly  more  apparent  to  the 
mind  of  the*  passer-by  than  the  irregularities  of  the  present  line.*  As 

* There  are  very  few  points  at  which  the  deflections  in  the  Boundary  may  be 
detected  with  the  naked  eye  from  intersecting  highways.  One  of  these  points  is 
in  the  Tuna  Valley  near  Milestone  167,  where  occurs  the  greatest  deflection  in  the 
line. 


No.  71.] 


145 


long  as  an  irregular  line  is  so  well  and  permanently  marked  that  it 
may  always  be  found,  and  it  will  satisfy  ninety-nine-hundredths  of 
the  people  interested,  more  than  a new  and  perfect  line  in  a new  loca- 
tion. And  the  monuments  which  may  be  placed  in  the  new  line 
will  be  much  more  liable  to  interference,  from  interested  parties, 
than  if  set  in  the  old  farm  bounds. 

“ In  the  reconnaissance  of  the  Parallel  Boundary,  most  of  the 
ground  had  been  passed  over  before  the  amount  of  variation  from 
the  parallel  of  42°  was  known,  except  by  inference  from  the  irregu- 
larities in  alignment.  In  consequence  the  occasions  to  sound  the 
opinions  of  the  inhabitants  with  whom  I came  in  contact,  upon  the 
subject  of  a radical  change  in  the  location  of  the  Boundary,  were  at 
a minimum.  Had  the  place  of  the  parallel  been  even  approxi- 
mately known  at  all  points  in  advance,  I am  confident  that  1 should 
have  daily  met  with  opinions  decidedly  adverse  to  a change.  Where 
by  means  of  the  astronomical  observations,  a marked  variation  was 
made  known,  as  at  stations  “ Finn,”  “Burt,”  and  “Clark,”  where 
valuable  lands  and  tenements  would  be  transfered,  opinions  had 
become  crystalized,  and  opposed  to  the  adjustment  of  the  Boundary 
upon  the  Astronomical  Parallel,  or  any  other,  not  coincident  with 
the  line  as  originally  laid  upon  the  ground. 

“ The  average  American  citizen  is  an  individual  technically  tena- 
cious of  all  his  rights  and  privileges  in  matters  touching  his  citizen- 
ship, or  the  boundaries  of  his  real  estate,  obstinately  adhering  to 
the  ‘old  farm  lines,’  however  erroneous  they  may  be.  And  in  the 
case  of  this  Boundary,  the  most  elaborate  series  of  provisos  for  the 
protection  of  vested  rights  will  hardly  satisfy  the  party  affected  by 
it,  for  a change,  the  'practical  object  of  which  is  not  apparent  to  his 
mind. 

“ Considering  the  temporary  character  of  the  monuments  placed 
to  mark  this  Boundary  94  years  ago,  it  is  surprising  that  more  of 
them  had  not  disappeared.  Had  monuments  similar  to  those  now 
used  by  the  State  Survey,  been  set  originally,  there  is  no  doubt  that 
99  per  cent  could  now  be  readily  found. 

“The  proportionately  slight  variations  in  alignment  of  the  greater 
portion  of  points  upon  the  Parallel  Boundary,  are  not  so  apparent 
or  serious  as  the  dis-align merit  of  nine-tenths  of  the  rambling  fences 
constructed  upon  surveyed  lines  throughout  the  agricultural  districts 
of  the  two  States. 

“ The  only  line,  other  than  the  original  of  1786-7,  which  should 
be  adopted,  if  a change  is  to  be  made,  should  not  be  the  Astronomi- 
cal parallel,  or  a mean  geodetic  parallel  located  by  an  independent 
system  of  triangles  dependent  upon  an  Astronomical  determina- 
tion of  the  latitudes  of  its  base  line.  But  it  should  be  a curve  inter- 
polated, after  extending  from  the  south  the  system  of  geodetic 
triangles  of  the  U.  S.  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey,  and  that  of  the 
State  Survey  of  New  York  from  the  north,  until  they  meet,  and 
the  probable  errors  in  the  positions  of  the  joint  stations  of  the  two 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  19 


146 


[Senate 


systems,  along  the  Boundary,  are  reduced  to  the  minimum,  by  the 
most  exact  appliances  of  science.  This  will  be  a work  not  of 
months,  but  of  years,  and  its  probable  cost  will  be  difficult  to  esti- 
mate. The  cost  of  an  independent  geodetic  survey,  as  estimated  by 
Col.  Worrall,  will  be  from  $36,000  to  $40,000.  While  to  fix  the 
line  along  the  Astronomical  parallel,  (which  would  be  a practically 
needless  change)  or  to  adjust  and  permanently  mark  the  original 
Boundary  of  1786-7,  the  cost  need  be  but  20  or  25  per  cent  of  the 
amount. 


“ Respectfully  submitted, 

“ H.  W.  CLARKE,  Civil  Engineer , 

“ Surveyor  on  the  part  of  New  York” 


u Opinion  of  Counsel . 

“ The  following  opinion  of  the  Hon.  Geo.  A.  Simmons,  of  Keeseville,  was  prepared  at  the  request 
of  the  New  York  Commissioners  on  the  Connecticut  Boundary.  As  it  embodies  the  legal 
principles  on  which  that  question  was  settled,  and  which  must  prevail  in  every  settlement,  it 
is  herewith  reprinted. 

*rThe  question  to  be  considered  arises  from  conflicting  views  as  to 
the  boundary  line  between  the  State  of  New  York  and  Connecticut. 

uIn  May  1855,  the  Legislature  of  Connecticut  appointed  commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  that  State  ‘ to  ascertain  the  boundary  line 
between  that  State  and  the  State  of  New  York,’  and  authorized 
them,  jointly  with  commissioners  to  be  appointed  by  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  vested  with  similar  powers  on  the  part 
of  the  latter  State,  ‘ to  ascertain  the  said  boundary  line  and  erect 
suitable  monuments  at  such  places  as  they  should  deem  necessary  to 
prevent  any  further  mistakes  concerning  the  same.’ 

“In  April,  1856,  the  Legislature  of  New  York  appointed  similar 
commissioners  with  the  like  powers  ‘ to  ascertain  the  boundary  line 
between  this  State  and  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  to  erect  suit- 
able monuments  at  such  places  as  they  should  deem  necessary  to  pre- 
vent any  further  mistakes  concerning  the  same.’ 

“ From  th z preambles  of  the  two  legislative  resolutions  appointing 
the  commissioners,  stating  ‘that  sundry  differences  and  disputes 
have  arisen  among  the  inhabitants  resident  near  the  line  dividing 
the  States  of  New  York  and  Connecticut  concerning  said  dividing 
line,  and  that  most  of  the  bounds  and  monuments  erected  on  and 
along  said  dividing  line  have  been  removed  or  destroyed,  rendering 
it  uncertain  to  which  of  said  States  sundry  citizens,  residents  as 
aforesaid,  belong ; now,  therefore,’  &c.  It  is  not  to  be  presumed , 
that  the  commissioners  were  meant  to  be  empowered  to  make  a new 
line  where  the  old  one  could  not  be  found,  and  thus  exercise  the 
powers  of  a court  of  chancery  to  settle  confused  boundaries  ; for  the 
•operative  and  directory  part  of  the  resolutions  is  confined  in  terms 
to  the  duty  .of  finding  or  ascertaining  the  old  line  — ‘ to  ascertain 


No.  71.] 


147 


the  boundary  line  between  this  State  and  the  State  of  Connecticut 
and  to  erect  suitable  monuments  at  such  places  as  they  shall  deem 
necessary,’  &c.  But  besides  these  words,  thus  excluding  the  com- 
missioners from  making  a new  line  and  restricting  them  to  the  duty 
of  ascertaining  or  finding  and  marking  the  old  one,  even  a Court 
of  Equity,  never  authorizes  any  other  thing  if  the  ancient  boundary 
can  be  ascertained , nor  even  where  it  cannot  be,  until  acting  for 
itself  on  a report  of  the  facts  and  evidence  made  by  the  commis- 
sioners as  to  that  point ; and  then  only  by  a subsequent  order  of  the 
Court  adapted  to  the  case.  1 Chitty  Gen.  Pr.  722  ; 2 Meriv.  507 ; 
1 Swant.  9. 

“ If,  then,  the  commissioners  are  satisfied  that  the  old  line  can  be 
found  or  ascertained,  they  have  performed  their  duty,  and  it  is  for 
the  Legislatures  of  the  two  States  to  say  whether  they  will  give  them 
authority  to  alter  it  or  make  a newline,  not  the  commissioners.  And 
even  the  State  Legislatures  cannot  authorize  such  alteration  without 
the  approval  of  Congress.  10  IT.  S.  Statutes  at  large,  p.  602,  and 
Constitution  U.  S.,  see  art.  4,  sec.  3. 

“But  more  than  this,  the  two  Legislatures  must  have  assumed  the 
existence  of  an  old  line  once  marked  on  the  land  and  that  it  is  capa- 
ble of  being  ascertained  by  careful  and  proper  re-surveys  with  the 
help  of  ancient  marks  and  documents,  and  they  have  'precluded  the 
notion  of  making  a new  line  or  altering  the  old  one  in  any  respect. 
We  may  take  for  granted,  then,  that  the  only  question  to  be  decided 
by  the  commissioners  is,  where  is  the  old  line  f 

“ This  line  was  agreed  on  by  the  two  colonial  governments  in  1683 
and  ratified  by  the  King  in  council  in  the  year  1700. 

“ It  was  provided  in  the  agreement,  that  in  case  certain  lines  therein 
mentioned  should  diminish  or  take  away  land  within  twenty  miles 
of  Hudson  river,  that  then  an  equal  quantity  should  be  added  out 
of  the  bounds  of  Connecticut.  In  1864  a survey  was  made  by 
joint  commissioners  and  several  lines  run.  It  was  ascertained  that 
these  lines  did  diminish  the  territory  of  New  York  to  the  amount 
of  61,440  acres,  and  that  a tract  must  be  taken  from  Connecticut 
containing  an  equal  number  of  acres  in  an  oblong  form  as  an  equiva- 
lent for  the  61,440  acres,  and  the  particular  location  of  the  oblong 
was  agreed  to  and  the  agreement  and  survey  were  confirmed  by  the 
King  in  council.  But  the  greater  part  of  the  bounds  remaining  un- 
surveyed, and  unmarked  on  the  land,  and  Connecticut  retaining 
possession  of  the  equivalent  lands , and  the  old  marks  becoming  con- 
siderably effaced  by  time,  the  two  colonial  Legislatures  in  1725 
authorized  a resurvey  of  the  old  lines  as  far  as  run,  and  a further 
survey  to  be  made  of  the  remaining  lines  not  before  run,  and  the 
erecting  of  suitable  monuments  with  proper  marks  on  the  land,  pur- 
suant to  the  agreement  and  partial  survey  of  1683  and  1684.  It 
appears  from  the  colonial  act  of  New  York  in  1725,  that  the 
boundary  line  from  the  mouth  of  Byram  river,  including  the  paral- 
lelogram of  61,440  acres  taken  from  the  territory  of  New  York, 


148 


[Senate 


was  run  by  the  surveyors  in  1684,  but  that  the  boundary  line  from 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  parallelogram  to  the  bounds  of  Massa- 
chusetts colony,  and  containing  the  equivalent  lands  to  be  added  to 
the  territory  of  New  York,  had  never  been  actually  run  and  marked 
on  the  land,  and  that  the  marks  and  monuments  made  in  16S4 
around  the  parallelogram  conceded  to  Connecticut  had  become  some- 
what obliterated. 

“ The  commissioners,  appointed  in  1725  to  resurvey  the  old  lines 
and  to  complete  the  survey  of  the  remaining  lines  begun  in  1684, 
did  resurvey  and  ascertain  the  original  bounds  as  far  as  the  original 
survey  had  been  actually  made,  and  agreed  upon  a proper  mode  of 
surveying  and  marking  the  remaining  lines  from  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  the  Oblong  conceded  to  Connecticut,  to  the  Massachusetts 
line,  and  in  such  way  as  to  concede  and  add  to  New  York  the  61,440 
acres.  And  again  in  1731  the  commissioners  completed  the  survey 
of  the  whole  line  to  Massachusetts  bounds  and  marked  them  on  the 
land  in  due  form  according  to  the  original  agreement  and  pursuant 
to  their  instructions  from  the  colonial  legislatures, 

“ Now  it  will  be  observed  that  the  commissioners  ran  no  new  lines, 
nor  were  authorized  to  run  a new  line  in  1725  and  1731,  but  only 
to  ascertain  the  lines  of  1684,  and  the  lines  thus  run  and  found  in 
1725  and  1731  are  the  same  that  are  to  be  found  and  ascertained 
now  in  1856. 

“ The  line  starting  from  the  easterly  termination  of  the  thirteen 
miles  and  sixty-four  rods,  extending  along  and  beyond  the  parallelo- 
gram conceded  to  Connecticut,  and  running  to  the  cross  line,  coming 
from  Cortland t’8  Point  and  from  thence  at  a distance  of  twenty 
miles  from  the  Hudson  river  nearly  northerly  to  Massachusetts 
bounds,  was  run  and’  marlced  on  the  land  and  is  equally  traceable 
at  this  time ; but  the  other  lines  parallel  to  these  twm  on  the  east  of 
them  at  the  distance  of  about  1 3-4  miles  and  20  rods  from 
them,  running  in  the  same  direction  to  the  Massachusetts  bounds, 
were  run  and  marked  on  the  land  by  set-offs  only  from  the  former 
lines.  That  is  to  say,  after  running  and  marking  on  the  land  a con- 
tinuous line  between  the  colony  of  New  York  and  Connecticut 
from  the  Oblong  on  the  Sound  to  Massachusetts  bounds,  giving  to 
Connecticut  the  Oblong,  but  giving  to  the  colony  of  New  York  no 
equivalent  lands,  they  ran  and  marked  on  the  land  another  line 
parallel  to  this  surveyed  and  marked  line,  on  the  easterly  side  of  it, 
at  the  proper  distance  from  it,  through  its  entire  length,  comprising 
the  61,440  acres  of  equivalent  lands.  But  such  other  east  line  was 
only  run  and  marked  by  set-offs  and  monuments  erected  at  distances 
of  about  two  miles  from  each  other,  leaving  these  monuments  as 
guides  and  directories  to  locate  at  any  future  occasion  an  exact,  con- 
tinuous line  through  them. 

“ The  principal  governing  monuments,  viz.:  the  one  at  the  begin- 
ning towards  the  south,  the  intermediate  one  nearly  opposite  to  tlie 
end  of  the  line  from  Cortlandt’s  Point,  and  the  one  at  the  termi- 
nation in  the  Massachusetts  line  are  now  actually  ascertained  and 


No.  71.] 


149 


identified,  and  of  course  indicate  the  general  course  of  the  whole 
east  line  of  the  equivalent  lands.  Through  these  monuments  and 
other  intermediate  ones  wherever  they  can  be  found  or  can  be  shown 
by  proper  evidence  to  have  once  existed,  the  line  must  now  be 
located  just  as  if  the  monuments  all  remained  to  this  time,  without 
regard  to  the  straightness  or  crookedness  of  the  line  indicated  by 
them. 

“ Had  the  line  been  run  within  a year  or  two  after  the  monuments 
were  first  erected,  and  before  being  obliterated,  it  is  plain  the  line 
must  have  run  straight  only  from  one  to  another  of  these  monuments, 
however  crooked  it  might  happen  to  be  as  a whole  ; and  the  oblitera- 
tion of  the  monuments  can  make  no  change  in  the  rule,  if  the  places 
where  they  once  were  can,  at  this  late  day,  be  ascertained  by  proper 
evidence. 

“ This  evidence  may  be  not  only  remnants  of  decayed  monuments 
but  possession  or  occupancy  in  reference  to  them  or  the  line  running 
through  them  ; or  even  traditionary  and  ancient  general  reputation. 
Long  and  ancient  reputation , if  general,  is  sufficient  of  itself,  es- 
pecially if  accompanied  by  a corresponding  possession  and  claim  of 
jurisdiction.  1 Phil.  Ev.,  24S ; 1 Cowen  & Hill’s  notes,  628  ; 1 
Greenl.  Ev.,  145  note — 801  note. 

“ It  cannot  be  contended  that  the  boundary  line  between  States  is 
not  to  be  ascertained  by  the  same  rules  as  the  boundary  between 
tracts  of  land  owned  by  individuals. 

“ 6 No  court  acts  differently  in  deciding  a boundary  between  States , 
than  in  lines  between  separate  tracts  of  land,’  say  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States  in  the  case  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island 
v.  The  State  of  Massachusetts.  12  Peters,  784. 

“Now,  to  establish  a line  between  different  tracts  of  land,  monu- 
ments or  marks  on  the  land  must  govern,  and  not  courses  or  lines  of 
the  compass,  or  quantity  of  acres ; and  this  rule  holds  whether  the 
line  established  by  such  monuments  is  straight  or  crooked. 

“Where  a line  is  once  found  marked  on  the  land , it  cannot  be 
straightened  by  an  ideal  line  indicated  by  the  compass.  It  follows 
that  the  commissioners  must  now  follow  the  old  marks  and  monu- 
ments wherever  found,  and  if  not  found  after  so  long  a period,  they 
are  then  to  take  the  best  evidence  they  can  get  of  their  former  ex- 
istence and  locality. 

“ Traditional  testimony  is  good  if  supported  by  public  acts  of  re- 
cognition ;•  such  as  the  acts  of  town  and  county  officers,  and  even  of 
town  meetings  and  county  assemblies,  uninterruptedly  continued 
from  year  to  year  / and  mere  courses  and  distances  are  never  re- 
sorted to  in  order  to  straighten  lines  if  clearly  opposed  to  other  evi- 
dence of  ancient  marks.  This  is  on  the  same  principle  that  a deed 
or  bond,  though  lost  or  destroyed,  is  still  to  govern  instead  of  a 
parol  contract,  when  the  contents  of  such  lost  deed  or  bond  can  be 
proved  by  other  evidence. 

“ The  east  line  of  the  equivalent  lands  was  fixed  by  set-offs,  and 


150 


[Senate 


the  entire  series  of  such  set-offs  constituted  a line  of  monuments 
marked  on  the  land,  about  two  miles  apart,  from  beginning  to  end 
of  the  boundary  line.  These  monuments  being  ascertained,  or  the 
places  where  they  once  were,  the  intermediate  line  between  them 
must  be  run  and  connected  so  as  to  form  a continuous  boundary, 
however  crooked  this  boundary  line  may  turn  out  to  be,  and  without 
regard  to  whether  it  contains  between  the  parallels  exactly  (51,440 
acres  or  not ; for  the  commissioners  have  no  authority  to  make  a new 
boundary,  or  to  make  a new  line,  even  if  the  old  commissioners  in 
1731  committed  mistakes  in  running  the  cross  lines  or  set-offs. 

“ Such  crooked  lines  having  been  so  long  recognized  and  acted  on 
as  the  true  division  line,  can  now  only  be  corrected,  if  at  all,  by  a 
suit  in  equity  by  the  State  of  Connecticut  against  the  State  of  New 
York  to  correct  the  mistakes , 'which  would,  in  all  probability,  be  as 
ineffectual  for  the  purpose  as  it  was  in  the  case  of  Rhode  Island 
against  Massachusetts,  before  cited,  the  loss  of  time  or  limit  of  pre- 
scription being  applicable  to  States  on  questions  of  boundary  as  well 
as  to  individual  land-owners.  See  Yattel,  p.  190,  § 147,  and  the 
opinion  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  case  of  Rhode  Island  v. 
Massachusetts,  before  cited.  * 

“ In  short,  the  old  line  of  1731,  as  indicated  by  the  monuments 
then  erected,  and  not  a new  line , must  govern,  because  such  new 
line  in  point  of  fact  and  of  law  does  not  coincide  with  the  boundary 
established  in  1731,  this  having  been  so  long  recognized,  and  now 
being  easily  ascertained  and  identified.  If  the  true  old  line  shall  be 
ascertained  by  the  present  survey  to  be  a crooked  one,  too  near  its 
western  parallel  on  the  north  end,  or  too  remote  at  the  intermediate 
points,  or  devious  and  irregular  in  many  places,  it  can  only  be 
straightened  by  the  consent  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  two  States, 
with  that  of  Congress  hereafter  to  be  given,  and  not  otherwise;  for 
the  resolutions  of  those  Legislatures,  already  adopted,  and  under 
which  the  present  commissioners  are  acting,  are  not  sufficient  for 
the  purpose  ; nor  could  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
order  the  lines  to  be  straightened  after  so  long  an  acquiescence  of 
the  States. 

4‘ But  again;  no  other  mode  of  ascertaining  the  division  lines  is 
consistent  with  the  agreement  made  by  the  joint  commissioners  the 
29tli  April,  1725,  and  their  survey  under  it.  The  lines  were  to  be 
run  by  marks  and  monuments  on  the  land ; for  it  was  agreed  that 
6 where  the  breadth  of  the  said  lands  to  be  added  out  of  Connecticut 
shall  be  established  as  above  directed,  we  shall  affix  and  ascertain 

* Capt.  Bouteile  of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey,  who  made  the  surveys  in 
this  celebrated  case,  which  is  referred  to  more  in  detail  in  Chancellor  Pierson’s 
letter,  relates  that  Daniel  Webster,  who  was  counsel  for  Massachusetts,  made  the 
point  in  his  argument  that  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  having  entered  the 
Union  and  ratified  the  Constitution  without  protest  from  the  latter  as  to  the  er- 
roneous location  of  the  boundary  between  them,  although  it  was  known  to  be  so 
at  the  time,  were  forever  estopped  from  any  right  or  claim  for  a correction  of  the 
error.  And  this, point  had  great  weight  in  the  decision  of  the  case. 


No.  71.] 


151 


the  bounds  of  the  same,’  and  4 erect  monuments  in  the  said  lines  at 
all  places  which  may  be  thought  necessary .’ 

44  The  same  commissioners,  immediately  thereafter,  on  the  1 2th  day 
of  May,  1725,  commenced  their  survey  on  the  land,  and  actually  ran 
and  marked  by  monuments  so  much  of  the  boundary  line  agreed  on 
as  designated  the  Oblong  on  the  land  conceded  to  Connecticut  4 in 
pursuance’  of  the  said  agreement ; and  they  say  that  they  4 have 
erected  several  monuments  in  the  said  line]  mentioning  a large 
number  of  them.  After  marking  trees  and  raising  heaps  of  stones 
at  the  end  of  every  mile  on  the  line  along  the  northerly  side  of  the 
Connecticut  Oblong  from  the  white  oak  trees  north  northeast  thirteen 
miles  and  sixty-four  rods,  they  marked  and  distinguished , and 
thereby  established  and  fixed  it  by  monuments  as  the  line  of  par- 
tition so  far  between  the  province  of  New  York  and  colony  of  Con- 
necticut. 

44  Afterwards,  on  the  14th  of  May,  1731,  the  joint  commissioners 
finished  their  work  by  running  and  marking  the  residue  of  the 
boundary  lines  extending  from  the  northeast  corner  of  the  Oblong 
assigned  to  Connecticut,  to  the  Massachusetts  line,  including  the 
equivalent  lands  of  61,440  acres,  4 in  pursuance  of  the  agreement 
made  in  the  year  1725,’  adopting  their  former  monument  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  Connecticut  Oblong  as  their  starting  point; 
and  then  finding  and  fixing  the  northeast  corner  of  the  equivalent 
lands  by  a monument , they  established  the  remaining  boundary  lines 
to  Massachusetts,  so  as  to  include  the  equivalent  lands,  by  erecting 
heaps  of  stones  4 as  monuments  of  the  east  bounds  of  the  said  addi- 
tional lands? 

44  These  monuments  were  located  by  set-offs,  or  perpendiculars, 
from  a parallel  line  previously  survej'ed  and  marked  bv  them  on  the 
land / and  then  the  commissioners  surrendered  up  to  New  York  the 
possession  of  the  equivalent  lands  as  divided  from  Connecticut  by 
the  said  4 lines’  run  through  the  said  several  monuments  erected  as 
before  mentioned. 

44  These  expressions  in  the  agreement  and  in  the  report  of  the 
survey,  made  pursuant  to  it,  clearly  show  that  these  commissioners 
were  too  wise  to  leave  boundary  lines  to  be  ascertained  by  mere 
courses  and  distances,  to  be  ascertained  from  books ; they  located 
them  on  the  land , as  the  controlling  marks  and  monuments , to  be 
there  read  and  known  by  all  men  ; they  were  too  sensible  not  to 
appreciate  the  difficulty  in  after  times  of  ascertaining  and  fixing 
mere  straight  lines , indicated  by  the  compass  and  measuring  chain 
only,  and  they  determined  not  to  leave  the  boundaries  thus  uncertain 
and  swimming  in  the  air,  but  to  have  them  attached  and  fastened 
to  the  land  by  actual  marks  and  monuments.  It  was  the  great  end 
and  purpose  which  they  had  been  appointed  and  empowered  to  ac- 
complish — not  to  run  new  lines , but  to  ascertain  and  mar'k  old  ones  • 
and  they  do  not  pretend  to  have  run  straight  lines  with  any  greater 
exactness  or  certainty  than  is  marked  by  monuments  on  the  land. 


152 


[Senate 


“ The  lines  thus  actually  run  and  marked  on  the  land  must  now 
govern,  unless  we  are  to  reject  all  the  former  agreements  and  sur- 
veys, and  launch  ourselves  into  an  ocean  of  uncertainty. 

“GEORGE  A.  SIMMONS. 

“ January  1,  1857.” 

Copies  of  the  correspondence  and  Documents  were  transmitted 
by  Governor  Cornell  of  New  York  to  Governor  Hoyt  of  Penn- 
sylvania, with  the  following  letter  under  date  of  2 March,  1881 : 

“ Sir  : The  accompanying  documents  relating  to  the  Boundary 
line  between  the  States  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  are  respect- 
fully presented  to  your  attention.  This  line  has  been  examined  by  a 
Joint  Commission  acting  under  the  authority  of  the  two  States  re- 
spectively. The  result  of  this  examination  discovers  the  fact : 

“ 1.  That  the  monuments  erected  by  the  original  Commission  in 
1786  and  1787  to  mark  the  line,  have  become  so  far  decayed  or  ob- 
literated as  to  require  immediate  steps  for  their  restoration  ; 

“ 2.  That  the  line  originally  run  and  marked  by  the  Commission- 
ers and  ratified  by  the  two  States,  although  fixed  with  all  the  precis- 
ion possible  at  that  day,  varies  very  considerably  from  the  verbal 
description,  sometimes  on  one  side  and  sometimes  on  the  other ; 

“ 3.  But  that  this  line  so  marked  has,  since  the  settlement  of  the 
country,  been  the  practical  boundary  between  the  lands  belongingin, 
and  the  limits  of  jurisdiction  of  the  two  States.  It  is  proper  to  say 
that  the  honorable  Commissioners  appointed  on  the  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, through  their  chairman,  Col.  Worrall  have  advocated  a re- 
survey of  the  entire  line,  and  the  establishment  of  a boundary  which 
should  rigidly  conform  to  the  verbal  description.  But  the  Commis- 
sioners of  New  York  have  held  that  no  practical  advantage,  but  great 
inconvenience,  would  arise  from  any  attempt  to  change  the  line  from 
the  original  and  accepted  location. 

“ Taking  this  view  of  the  subject  and  following  the  well-settled 
principles  laid  down  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 
(4  Howard,)  the  Legislature  of  this  State  passed  an  act  May  20, 1880, 
declaring  the  lines  originally  laid  down  as  the  boundary  lines,  irre- 
spective of  their  conformity  to  the  verbal  descriptions  thereof,  and 
authorized  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  University  to  appoint  Com- 
missioners to  meet  commissioners  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  vested 
with  similar  powers,  and  restore  the  monuments  on  the  line  origi- 
nally surveyed  and  marked.  The  attention  of  your  Excellency  is 
respectfully  called  to  this  action,  with  the  request  that  you  will  take 
whatever  steps  may  be  necessary  to  bring  about  an  early  and  satis- 
factory settlement  of  the  line  and  the  much  needed  restoration  of  the 
monuments.  Very  respectfully  Your  Obedient  Servant. 

“ ALONZO  B.  CORNELL.” 

And  in  March,  1881,  Gov.  Hoyt  sent  to  the  Legislature  the  com- 
munication of  Gov.  Cornell,  and  the  documents  which  accompanied 
the  same,  with  the  following  message  : — 


153 


No.  71.] 

“ To  the  Honorable  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania : 

“ Gentlemen  : I have  the  honor  to  transmit  a communication  of 

his  Excellency  the  Governor  of  New  York,  and  accompanying  report 
of  the  Commissioners  and  act  of  the  Legislature  of  that  State  relat- 
ing to  the  Boundary  line  between  the  States  of  New  York  and  Penn- 
sylvania. Believing  that  no  advantage  to  any  individual  or  to  the 
public  can  be  gained  by  running  a new  line  to  conform  to  the  verbal 
description,  but  that,  on  the  contrary,  it  would  cause  great  injury,  or 
at  least  inconvenience  to  vested  rights  to  adopt  such  a course,  1 un- 
hesitatingly indorse  the  New  York  view,  and  respectfully  recommend 
that  the  commissioners  appointed  under  the  act  of  May  8,  lb76, 
entitled  i An  act  in  regard  to  the  boundary  monuments  between  the 
States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  York,’  be  authorized  to  meet  the 
Board  of  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  to 
ascertain  and  re-establish  the  monuments  on  the  original  line,  and 
erect  such  additional  monuments  at  such  places  on  said  line  as  they 
may  deem  necessary,  and  that  you  further  provide  for  the  moiety  of 
the  cost  which  will  properly  be  borne  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

“ HENRY  M.  HOYT.” 

The  position  assumed  by  the  New  York  Commission  was  accepted 
by  the  Joint  Commission,  and  it  was  decided  that  the  only  course  to 
be  pursued  was  to  restore  the  original  line  of  1786-7  as  nearly  as 
practicable,  and  mark  it  permanently. 

For  some  reason  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  failed  to  respond 
to  the  suggestion  of  the  Governor,  and  no  appropriation  was  made 
that  season.  In  this  state  of  the  case,  and  in  view  of  the  importance 
of  having  some  of  the  monuments  renewed  without  delay,  and  thus 
secure  part  of  the  more  important  work  already  done,  from  being 
lost,  the  New  York  Commissioners  proposed  to  the  Pennsylvania 
Board  that  they  would  furnish  the  funds  for  going  on  with  the  work, 
so  far  as  the  unexpended  funds  would  warrant,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  one-half  the  amount  so  expended  should  be  refunded  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Commissioners,  when  an  appropriation  should  be  made. 
The  proposition  was  accepted  and  the  New  York  Commissioners 
immediately  undertook  the  work  of  re-monuinenting  the  Boundary. 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  20 


154: 


[Senate 


THE  NEW  MONUMENTS,  AND  FINAL  AD- 
JUSTMENT- OPERATIONS  OF  1881-4. 


The  Joint  Boundary  Commission  having  concluded  upon  the 
course  to  be  taken  in  adjusting  the  Boundary  and  replacing  the 
monuments,  the  work  of  permanently  marking  the  line  was  com- 
menced in  the  fall  of  1881. 

The  new  monuments  adopted  for  the  purpose  were  of  granite  of 
a pattern  similar  to  those  adopted  and  placed  upon  the  Boundary 
line  between  New  Jersey  and  New  York.  This  granite  is  of  a coarse, 
reddish-gray  texture,  quite  hard  and  durable.  Descriptions  of  the 
monuments  in  the  various  classes  will  be  found  in  Appendix  B.  A 
contract  was  made  in  the  summer  of  18S1  with  Mr.  John  Beattie 
of  Leete’s  Island,  Connecticut,  to  furnish  all  the  highway  monu- 
ments, railroad  monuments,  and  Milestones  (first,  second,  third,  and 
fourth  class  monuments)  required,  at  the  price  of  three  dollars 
each  for  the  highway  monuments,  and  two  T°D5o-  dollars  each  for  the 
smaller  size,  delivered  on  the  cars  at  his  quarry.  Mr.  Beattie 
had  previously  furnished  a large  number  of  monuments  for  the  use 
of  the  New  York  State  Survey ; and  he  also  furnished  the  monu- 
ments used  upon  the  New  Jersey  and  New  York  Boundary.  Thir- 
teen blocks  of  granite  (fifth  class  monuments)  for  marking  the 
Astronomical  Stations  adjacent  to  the  Boundary  occupied  by  the 
party  from  the  Coast  Survey  Office  in  1877  and  1S79,  were  after- 
wards furnished  by  Mr.  Beattie  for  five  dollars  each,  delivered  at 
Jersey  City. 

Two  large  monuments  of  Rhode  Island  granite  were  also  pur- 
chased in  the  fall  of  1883  at  a cost  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
dollars  each,  to  be  delivered  at  Jersey  City.  One  of  these  was  set 
in  the  Parallel  Boundary  near  the  right  bank  of  the  Delaware  River, 
and  the  other  in  the  Meridian  Boundary,  100  feet  North  of  its  inter- 
section with  the  Parallel  Boundary  at  the  south-west  corner  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  Each  was  composed  of  a single  block  of 
granite  about  10^  feet  long,  the  upper  six  feet  being  dressed  in  the 
form  of  a flat  obelisk,  2J  by  1J  feet  at  the  base,  with  appropriate 
inscriptions  on  each  broad  face.  Sketch  No.  9 is  a view  of  the 
monument  near  the  Initial  Point. 

The  first  car-load  of  monuments  was  delivered  at  Waverly  on  the 
New  York,  Lake  Erie  and  Western  Railway,  25  October,  1881. 

% The  Boundary  across  the  Chemung  and  Susquehanna  Flats  had  pre- 
viously been  adjusted,  most  of  it  having  been  entirely  re-run,  and 
the  monument  points  fixed.  The  first  new  monument  set  upon  the 
Boundary  was  a milestone  marked  ’ to  replace  the  remains  of  the 
Third  Latitude  Stone  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Chemung  River.  The 


No.  71.] 


155 


work  was  undertaken  so  late  in  the  season  that  comparatively  little 
progress  was  made.  Operations  in  1881  were  confined  to  the  por- 
tion of  the  Boundary  between  Milestones  46  and  66.  Forty-three 
monuments  were  set  before  operations  were  suspended. 

The  work  was  not  resumed  in  1882  until  5 July,  as  the  party  was 
occupied  upon  the  New  Jersey  and  New  York  Boundary  in  April, 
May,  and  J une.  One  hundred  and  eighty-one  monuments  were  set 
in  that  year.  These  were  upon  the  eastern  portion  of  the  Boundary 
from  the  Initial  Point  to  Milestone  120,  with  the  exception  of  the 
section  between  the  Susquehanna  Biver  near  Milestone  12  and  Mile- 
stone 38,  most  of  which  was  left  vacant. 

In  1883,  owing  to  the  late  date  at  which  Legislative  appropriations 
were  available,  the  resumption  of  operations  was  delayed  until  30 
July.  In  that  year  97  monuments  were  set.  The  vacant  portions 
between  Milestones  12  and  38  were  filled,  and  the  work  of  adjusting 
the  Boundary  and  setting  monuments  was  carried  on  westward  from 
Milestone  120  to  Milestone  139. 

April  9,  1884,  found  the  party  in  the  field,  and  by  18  September 
all  the  monuments  upon  the  Parallel  Boundary  had  been  set ; these 
included  monuments  at  each  of  the  Astronomical  Stations,  the  large 
monument  at  the  Initial  Point,  and  a few  in  scattered  vacancies  east 
of  Milestone  139.  The  work  included  a very  careful  re-survey  of 
the  apparently  unmarked  portion  between  Milestones  139  and  155, 
during  the  progress  of  which,  4 of  the  original  monuments  not  dis- 
covered upon  the  reconnaissance,  were  found.  These  were  145, 
152,  and  154,  in  place;  and  143  lying  upon  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  within  two  feet  of  the  point  fixed  for  the  new  monument 
before  the  old  one  was  found.  This  is  the  most  irregular  portion  of 
the  Boundary,  and  the  discovery  of  these  Milestones  simplified  the 
problem  of  adjustment  very  materially.  The  unmarked  section  of 
seventeen  miles,  west  of  Milestone  208,  was  also  very  carefully  re- 
surveyed before  any  monuments  were  set.  Although  none  of  the 
original  monuments  were  found,  the  re-survey  by  connecting  a few 
points  fixed  by  the  Holland  Land  Company  in  its  Surveys,  which 
could  be  identified,  afforded  a very  convenient  basis  for  a satisfactory 
adjustment  of  the  Section. 

Upon  the  completion  of  the  Parallel  Boundary,  14  monuments 
were  set  upon  the  Meridian  Boundary,  including  the  large  terminal 
monument  near  the  u Corner,”  before  operations  were  suspended, 
near  the  end  of  September.  This  suspension  with  but  15  miles  of 
Boundary  unfinished,  was  unfortunately  rendered  necessary  by  the 
exhaustion,  July  1,  of  the  funds  appropriated  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Legislature.  The  New  York  appropriation  alone  was  only  sufficient 
to  complete  the  Parallel  Boundary. 

The  method  of  setting  the  various  monuments  is  given  in 
Appendix  B.  The  Instructions  to  the  Surveyors  are  contained  in 
Appendix  AA. 


156 


[Senate 


Adjustment, 

In  genera],  the  original  Milestones  which  were  known  or  consid- 
ered to  be  in  place  were  replaced  with  new  monuments,  and  the 
places  for  monuments  at  mile  points  where  the  original  monuments 
were  missing  or  had  been  moved,  were  fixed  by  alignment  between 
adjacent  Milestones  in  either  direction.  This  rule  was  varied  occa- 
sionally however,  where  a different  method  of  adjustment  should 
prove  more  satisfactory  in  its  results,  or  where  authentic  points 
other  than  the  old  milestones  were  identified.  In  several  instances, 
before  the  places  for  the  new  monuments  were  fixed,  at  points 
where  angles  in  the  Boundary  were  quite  apparent,  the  original 
milestones  which  marked  them  being  lost,  renewed  and  extended 
searches  for  the  old  monuments  were  made,  which  were  successful 
but  in  one  case,  Milestone  145.  The  other  missing  milestones  found 
in  1884  were  discovered  accidentally. 

In  the  use  of  other  authentic  points  in  the  adjustment  of  the 
Boundary,  the  theory  was  adopted  that  these  points  were  originally 
placed  m line  between  adjacent  milestones,  and  to  replace  a missing 
milestone  the  converse  of  the  proposition  was  resorted  to,  by  placing 
it  in  a prolongation  of  a line  drawn  over  the  point  from  a milestone 
in  the  opposite  direction.  The  entire  section  west  of  Milestone  208 
was  adjusted  upon  this  basis.  (Sketch  No.  14.)  Many  of  the  points 
thus  used,  were  also,  as  a precautionary  measure,  marked  with 
granite  monuments.  Intermediate  monuments,  with  few  exceptions, 
were  placed  in  line  between  milestones. 

Whenever  any  doubtful  circumstances  were  found  connected  with 
the  traditions  of  any  of  the  old  monuments  which  seemed  to  stand 
in  place,  every  thing  bearing  upon  the  case  was  carefully  considered 
before  the  position  was  finally  settled.  In  two  or  three  cases  the 
evidence  was  such  that  the  positions  of  the  old  monuments  were  not 
recognized,  and  the  places  for  the  new  monuments  were  fixed  by 
alignment  with  others. 

It  is  possible  also  that  a very  few  of  the  old  monuments,  which  from 
their  surroundings  appeared  to  have  been  undisturbed,  and  about 
which  no  question  had  ever  been  raised,  or  if  raised  appeared  to  be 
based  upon  no  sound  evidence,  may,  at  some  time,  long  since  past, 
have  been  moved  from  their  original  locations.  Their  anomalous 
positions  are  the  only  indication.  Milestones  89  and  92  are  examples. 
(See  Sketch  No.  11.) 

The  total  lack  of  any  notes  of  the  original  survey,  which  would 
have  been  of  great  value  in  the  settlement  of  doubtful  points, 
rendered  our  duty  quite  embarrassing  upon  some  portions  of  the 
Boundary,  more  especially  along  the  line  between  Broome  and  Sus- 
quehanna Counties,  where  so  many  milestones  were  missing,  and 
where  the  later  land  surveys  were  so  vague  and  unreliable.  The 
original  notes  would  also  have  enabled  us  to  verify  the  positions  of 
all  the  old  monuments  found.  The  map  of  the  original  survey,  be- 
ing upon  so  small  a scale,  was  of  but  little  value  for  such  purposes. 


No.  71.] 


157 


Recurring  again  to  the  division  of  the  Boundary  into  Sections  by 
the  Astronomical  Stations  of  the  Coast  Survey  party,  a detailed 
statement  of  the  points  at  which  the  various  milestones  were  placed, 
and  the  manner  in  which  the  unmarked  or  doubtful  intervals  were 
treated,  is  here  given. 


First  Section. 

Initial  Point  to  Station  Finn. 

Milestones  1,  5,  6,  7,  10,  11,  15, 16  and  19  being  in  place  and  un- 
disputed, were  replaced  with  new  monuments. 

Milestones  2,  3 and  4 having  no  fixed  status  — two  of  them 
having  entirely  disappeared  — and  all  the  intermediate  monuments 
east  of  5,  were  placed  in  a curved  line  having  the  normal  curvature 
of  the  parallel,  extending  from  Milestone  5 over  Milestone  1 east  to 
the  meridian  of  Station  Travis. 

Milestone  2 was  placed  in  a bed  of  deposited  gravel,  a few  feet 
west  of  Sand  Pond  Brook  and  directly  opposite  the  yellow  birch 
stump  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  remains  of  the  2 mile  tree  of 
George  Palmer’s  survey  in  1784. 

Original  milestone  3 was  found  where  temporarily  set  up  in  1877. 
It  had  been  broken  about  six  inches  below  the  top.  As  the  point 
is  almost  inaccessible,  and  the  site  for  the  monument  being  near  the 
face  of  a ragged  ledge,  it  was  deemed  unadvisable  to  set  the  new 
monument  at  this  point.  The  upper  portion  of  the  old  milestone 
was  carefully  placed  in  line  on  the  surface  of  the  rock  and  a pile  of 
stones  was  built  around  it.  The  new  monument  was  set-  21  chains 
further  west  near  an  old  road. 

The  4 mile  point  was  in  or  near  the  bed  of  Sand  Pond  Brook ; a 
highway  having  been  worked  close  along  the  edge  of  the  bluff  on 
the  east  side  of  the  brook,  the  monument  was  set  upon  the  east  side 
of  the  road. 

Milestones  8 and  9 not  being  in  existence,  the  new  milestones 
were  placed  in  line  between  7 and  10. 

Original  milestone  12  having  entirely  disappeared  and  its  place 
being  unknown,  the  new  monument  was  placed  upon  the  summit  of 
the  high,  narrow  ridge  between  Cascade  Valley  and  the  Susque- 
hanna River,  in  line  between  milestone  11  and  the  East  River 
Monument,  338  feet  east  of  a point  one-fourth  the  distance  from 
Milestone  11  to  15. 

The  monuments  upon  each  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  be- 
tween the  12  and  13  mile  points,  marking  a break  in  the  Boundary, 
being  so  near  the  River  banks  that  it  was  deemed  unadvisable  to 
replace  them ; they  were  left  in  place  and  the  new  monuments  were 
set,  one  50  feet  east  of  the  east  River  Monument  in  line  toward 
Milestone  11,  and  the  other  20  feet  west  of  the  west  River  Monument 
in  line  toward  Milestone  15. 

Milestones  13  and  14  were  set  at  one-half  and  three-fourths  the 


158 


[Senate 


distance  from  11  to  15,  in  line  between  the  latter  milestone  and  the 
monument  on  the  west  bank  of  the  River,  the  originals  having  been 
displaced  and  the  line  at  these  points  being  in  doubt. 

Original  Milestones  IT  and  18  had  long  since  disappeared,  but  the 
positions  of  the  new  monuments  were  very  satisfactorily  fixed  by 
placing  them  in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  the  line  from  mile- 
stone 19  to  the  First  Latitude  Stone  at  20-|  miles. 

Milestone  20  was  placed  in  line  between  the  last  two  monuments. 
The  First  Latitude  Monument  having  been  inscribed  20  M 29  ch., 
the  point  for  Milestone  20  was  fixed  Longitudinally  of  the  dis- 
tance from  Milestone  19  toward  the  Latitude  Stone,  the  surplus 
distance  being  divided  proportionately. 

The  Pier  at  Station  Travis  was  replaced  by  a Station  monument 
and  a small  monument  was  set  by  the  roadside  81.6  feet  south,  at  the 
intersection  of  an  eastward  prolongation  of  the  Boundary  with  the 
meridian  of  the  Station. 

An  old  stone  monument  165  feet  west  of  Milestone  19,  known  as 
the  a Fan-tail  Corner”  was  reset  in  line  opposite  its  old  position. 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  Section  is  as  follows : — 


Milestones 20 

Highway  monuments 25 

Railroad  do  2 

Large  Initial  do  1 

Station  do  (Travis) 1 

River  and  other  intermediate  monuments 6 

New  monuments  on  First  Section 55 


Of  these,  34  were  set  in  1882,  IT  in  1883,  and  4 in  1884. 

One  of  the  highway  monuments  marks  the  corner  of  Wayne  and 
Susquehanna  Counties  in  Pennsylvania. 

Milestone  15  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Oakland  and  Great 
Bend  in  Susquehanna  County. 

Milestones  1 and  4 are  also  highway  monuments. 

Second  Section.*  T 

Station  Finn  to  Station  Little  Meadows. 

Most  of  the  original  monuments  upon  this  Section  had  been  dis- 
placed or  had  entirely  disappeared.  The  position  of  a few  could  be 
satisfactorily  fixed  by  authentic  marks  and  the  line  was  adjusted  to 
correspond  with  these. 

Milestones  26,  33,  36,  and  39,  the  only  original  milestones  in 
place  upon  this  Section,  were  replaced  with  new  monuments. 

Milestone  20-J  was  set  at  the  east  side  of  the  base  of  the  original 
First  Latitude  Stone  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  River. 

* Sketch  No.  10  exhibits  the  irregularities  on  this  Section  upon  an  exaggerated 
scale. 


No.  71.] 


159 


Milestone  21  was  placed  upon  the  site  of  the  Town  Corner  stone- 
pile  fixed  by  Col.  Gere  and  the  County  Commissioners  in  1870. 
The  site  of  the  milestone,  which  had  been  broken  up,  was  shown 
Col.  Gere  by  an  old  hunter.  This  milestone  marks  the  corner  of  the 
Towns  of  Great  Bend  and  Liberty  in  Susquehanna  County,  Pa. 

Milestone  22  was  set  in  line  between  21  and  23  upon  the  west 
side  of  the  Snake  Creek  Road,  in  the  center  of  which  the  original 
is  said  to  have  stood  at  the  time  the  road  was  laid  out. 

Milestone  23  was  set  at  the  point  at  which  the  original  was  found 
in  1877  by  Col.  Gere,  and  which  has  since  been  marked  by  a sub- 
stantial stake. 

Milestones  21  and  25  were  placed  in  line  between  23  and  26. 

Original  milestone  27  had  been  moved  south  to  make  room  for  a 
road.  The  road  was  legally  laid  out  in  New  York  only,  but  had 
been  opened  and  worked  with  the  Boundary  as  its  center  line,  and 
since  the  reconnaissance  had  been  changed  entirely  to  the  north  side 
of  the  line.  The  new  monument  was  placed  in  line  between  26  and 
28  opposite  the  point  at  which  it  was  found  in  1877.  It  marks  the 
corner  of  the  Towns  of  Liberty  and  Silver  Lake  in  Susquehanna 
County. 

Milestone  28  wTas  set  in  place  of  an  old  Pennsylvania  corner  stone 
which  stood  at  or  near  the  site  of  the  original. 

Milestones  29  and  30  were  set  in  line  between  Milestones  28 
and  31. 

Milestone  31  was  placed  in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  a line 
from  Milestone  33  to  an  authentic  “State  Line  Stone,”  * which 
stands  about  76  feet  west  of  31. 

Milestone  32  was  placed  in  line  between  31  and  33.  It  marks  the 
corner  of  the  Towns  of  Silver  Lake  and  Choconut  in  Susquehanna 
County,  Penn. 

Milestone  34  was  placed  in  line  between  33  and  the  new  site  of 
35,  10  feet  east  of  a point  midway. 

The  position  of  Milestone  35  was  very  satisfactorily  fixed  by  plac- 
ing it  in  an  eastern  prolongation  of  the  line  from  Milestone  36  to  39. 

Milestones  37  and  38  were  set  in  line  between  36  and  39  at  one- 
third  and  twTo-tliirds  of  the  distance. 

Milestone  39J  was  placed  in  line  between  Milestone  39  and  40  in 
the  meridian  of  Station  Little  Meadows  and  2.4  feet  South  of  it.  It 
is  near  the  probable  position  of  the  original  Second  Latitude  Stone. 

The  Pier  at  Station  Finn  was  replaced  by  a station  monument, 

* This  stone,  which  has  the  general  appearance  of  the  milestones  found  upon 
this  section,  but  is  unmarked,  stands  near  where  original  milestone  31  was  found 
lying  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground.  It  has  at  sometime  been  carefully  set 
and  stands  firmly  in  the  ground  in  the  south  road  fence,  surrounded  by  a small 
pile  of  field  stone.  Of  this  monument,  the  late  A.  R.  Ellis,  an  old  Surveyor  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Vestal.  N.  Y.,  said  in  1878:  “ It  was  shown  me  more  than 
twenty-five  years  ago  by  an  old  man,  as  the  ‘ State  line.  ’ ” The  highway  west 
of  this  stone  bears  to  the  north  of  the  line.  At  the  point  where  it  bends  toward 
the  north-west  it  is  about  55  feet  north  of  the  Boundary. 


* 


160  [Senate 

and  a small  monument  was  placed  in  tlie  meridian  of  the  Station 
several  hundred  feet  north. 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  Section  is: 


Milestones 19 

20f  and  39£  mile  monuments 2 

Highway  monuments 15 

Railroad  do 2 

Station  do  (Finn)  1 

Other  intermediate  monuments 2 

New  monuments  on  Second  Section 41 


Of  these  9 were  set  in  1882,  30  in  1883  and  2 in  1884. 

Milestones  22,  28,  31,  and  39  are  also  highway  monuments. 

Third  Section. 

Station  Little  Meadow s to  Station  Waverly. 

Milestones  40,  41,  44,  46,  47,  48,  49,  50,  51,  52,  53,  54,  55,  57 
and  59,  being  undisputed,  were  replaced  by  new  monuments. 

Milestone  42  having  been  plowed  up,  the  new  monument  was 
placed  in  line  between  Milestones  41  and  43. 

Milestone  43  had  at  some  early  date  been  moved  directly  west  a 
few  feet  to  accommodate  the  Milford  and  Owego  Turnpike,  but  as 
its  alignment  was  traditionally  correct  it  was  replaced  by  a new 
monument. 

The  site  of  Milestone  45  was  identified  in  1877,  but  as  it  is  in  the 
center  of  a highway,  the  new  monument  was  set  in  line  upon  the 
west  side  of  the  road,  13£  feet  from  the  original  site. 

Milestone  54  was  set  in  the  place  of  a stone  set  many  years  ago 
to  replace  the  original  which  had  been  broken  in  pieces. 

Milestone  56  had  been  removed  40  or  50  years  ago,  in  working 
the  road  which  follows  the  Boundary  at  that  point.  The  new  mon- 
ument was  therefore  placed  in  line  between  55  and  57.  Being  in 
the  center  of  the  highway,  it  was  buried  with  its  top  flush  with  the 
surface,  and  the  hole  was  filled  around  it  with  cement-mortar  and 
broken  stone. 

Original  milestone  58  disappeared  years  ago.  From  some  old 
Field  Notes  of  the  original  subdivision  of  Wheeler  Douglass’  Mili- 
tary Location  in  Tioga  County,  New  York,  made  by  Major  Zephon 
Flower,  in  possession  of  Z.  F.  Walker,  Esq.,  of  Athens,  Penn.,  this 
milestone  was  shown  to  be  2.50  chains  east  of  a corner  of  a division 
of  that  Tract.  This  corner  has  been  marked  for  years  with  a sub- 
stantial stone  monument,  with  a cross  cut  upon  its  top.  The  new 
milestone  was  therefore  set  2.50  chains  east  of  this  monument,  and 
in  line  with  it  and  milestone  59.  It  corresponds  closely  with  the 
old  fences.  The  point  is  upon  a steep  side-hill. 

The  pier  at  Little  Meadows  was  removed  in  1884,  and  a Station 
monument  buried  in  its  place.  A small  monument  had  been  set  the 
year  before  in  the  meridian  of  the  Station  about  1,760  feet  north. 


No.  71.]  161 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  Section  is : 

Milestones 20 

Highway  monuments 23 

Railroad  do  4 

Station  do  (Little  Meadows) 1 

Meridian  do  ( do  ) 1 

Other  intermediate  monuments 3 

New  monuments  on  Third  Section 52 


Of  these  26  were  set  in  1881,  23  in  1882,  2 in  1883,  and  1 in  1884. 

Of  the  milestones,  43,  44,  45,  46,  50  and  54  are  highway  monu- 
ments. 

Milestone  40  marks  the  corner  of  Susquehanna  and  Bradford 
Counties  in  Pennsylvania. 

Milestone  46  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Warren  and  Wind- 
ham, and  Milestone  52  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Windham 
and  Litchfield,  in  the  County  of  Bradford. 

Fourth  Section. 

Station  Waverly  to  Station  Burt. 

Milestones  62,  65,  66,  67,  68  and  69  were  replaced  with  new  monu- 
ments. 

Milestone  60  was  placed  one  mile  west  of  59,  and  in  the  curved 
line  established  through  the  village  in  1877. 

The  site  of  Astronomical  Station  Waverly  was  marked  by  bury- 
ing a Station  monument. 

The  Spanish  Hills  monument  at  60}  miles  was  left  undisturbed 
and  a highway  monument  was  placed  upon  the  summit  of  the  ridge 
15  feet  east  of  it. 

The  remains  of  the  Third  Latitude  Stone  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Chemung  River  were  replaced  with  a new  monument,  marked  6$, 
which  is  about  50  feet  south  of  a high  railway  embankment. 

Milestone  61  being  buried  beneath  a high  railroad  embankmedt, 
the  new  milestone  was  placed  132  feet  further  east,  and  in  a line  be- 
tween the  old  milestone  and  the  Spanish  Hills  monument. 

Milestones  63  and  64  having  been  removed,  the  new  monuments 
were  placed  in  line  between  Milestones  62  and  65.  Original  Mile- 
stone 63  had  been  moved  about  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground  so 
that  its  original  position  was  quite  indefinite.  There  is  no  fence 
along  the  line  at  this  point. 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  Section  is : 


Milestones 10 

Highway  monuments 13 

Railroad  do  4 

Spanish  Hills  monument 1 

Station  monument  (Waverly) 1 

Other  intermediate  monuments 2 

New  monuments  on  Fourth  Section 31 


[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


21 


162 


[Senate 

Of  these  17  were  set  in  1881,  10  in  1882,  8 in  1883,  and  1 in 
1884 

Milestone  63  is  also  a highway  monument. 

Milestone  65  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Athens  and 
Ridgebury,  Bradford  Co.,  Penn. 

Fifth  Section. 

Station  Burt  to  Station  Lawrenceville . 

Milestones  71,  72,  73,  74,  78,  79,*  80,  81,  82,  86,  88  and  89f  were 
replaced  with  new  monuments. 

Milestone  70  having  entirely  disappeared,  the  new  monument  was 
placed  in  line  between  Milestones  69  and  71. 

Original  milestone  75  stands  in  the  bottom  of  a ravine  close  be- 
side a high  road  embankment,  and  liable  to  be  buried.  It  was, 
therefore,  thought  advisable  to  place  the  new  monument  in  line 
33  feet  farther  west,  upon  the  bank  of  the  ravine. 

Milestones  76  and  77  having  disappeared,  and  their  traditional  posi- 
tions being  uncertain,  the  new  monuments  were  placed  in  line  be- 
tween milestones  75  and  78. 

Milestones  83  and  85  having  entirely  disappeared,  and  milestone 
84  having  been  moved  from  its  original  position,  and  the  Boundary 
at  these  points  being  in  an  unsettled  condition,  the  new  monuments 
were  set  in  line  between  Milestones  82  and  86. 

New  milestone  87  was  placed  in  line  between  milestones  86  and 
88,  one  mile  west  of  the  former. 

Milestone  90  was  left  undisturbed  and  the  new  milestone  was  set 
in  line  against  its  east  edge. 

The  Fourth  Latitude  Stone  at  89  M 53  Ch.,:j;  which  stood  upon 
the  left  bank  of  the  Tioga  River,  was  washed  away  by  a freshet  a 
great  many  years  ago.  There  was  evidently  an  angle  in  the  line  at 

* Milestones  79  and  80  are  iu  the  irregular  curve  in  the  Boundary,  south  of 
Elmira,  west  of  where  it  reaches  its  extreme  northerly  limit.  At  the  time  of  the 
reconnaissance,  the  question  was  raised  as  to  their  integrity,  with  good  reason  it 
seemed,  until  the  entire  Boundary  between  the  Third  and  Fourth  Latitude  Stones 
was  carefully  studied.  Then  it  appeared  evident  that  these  milestones  were  dis- 
credited more  from  their  apparent  disalignment  than  from  any  actual  knowledge 
of  a removal,  although  they  were  both  found  standing  crosswise  of  the  line 
which  indicated  a disturbance  of  their  original  position.  79  had  recently  been 
taken  up  and  set  up  beside  a fence,  but  had  been  replaced  soon  after. 

f Supervisor  More,  of  Lindley,  Steuben  County,  N.Y.,  in  a letter  to  Secretary 
Wool  worth  in  1870,  quoted  in  Regents’  Boundary  Report,  i , 345,  made  the  rather 
surprising  statement  that  Milestone  89  “ has  been  moved  north  about  three  rods, 
as  ascertained  by  surveyors  adjusting  their  Compasses.”  In  a letter  to  me  since 
the  preliminary  survey  of  that  section,  he  says  he  must  have  written  “ South.’' 
Although  it  is  considerably  south  of  a line  between  Milestones  88  and  90,  it  is 
very  nearly  in  line  with  the  milestones  for  six  miles  east  of  the  former,  and  is 
almost  due  east  from  the  original  position  of  the  Fourth  Latitude  Stone.  And 
while  at  this  milestone  there  is  an  abrupt  deflection  to  the  north  in  the  line, 
there  seemed  to  be  no  other  evidence  that  it  was  not  in  place.  (See  Sketch  No.  11.) 

\ Sketch  No.  11  exhibits  in  an  exaggerated  way  the  inequalities  in  the  Bound- 
ary in  the  vicinity  of  this  “ terminal  Station  ” of  178G, 


Hon//  OJ.  UJ  Off  Olyas' 


4 


No.  71.] 


163 


this  point.  The  angular  point  was  assumed  to  be  in  line  with  Mile- 
stones  90  and  91,  and  j-jj-  of  the  distance  from  89  to  90,  and  a monu- 
ment was  set  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  River  75  feet  west 
of  the  angular  point.  Two  monuments  east  of  the  River  were  set 
in  line  between  the  angular  point  and  Milestone  89. 

The  Pier  at  Astronomical  Station  Burt  was  replaced  with  a Sta- 
tion monument.  A small  monument  was  placed  in  the  meridian  of 
the  Station  1,779  feet  South. 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  Section  is : 


Milestones 21 

High  way  Mon umen  ts 23 

Railroad  do  . . 2 

Station  do  (Burt) 1 

Meridian  do  . 1 

River  (Tioga)  Monument 1 

New  Monuments  in  Fifth  Section 49 


Of  these,  16  were  set  in  1882,  1 in  1883,  and  2 in  1881. 

Milestones  75,  79,  80,  82  and  85  are  also  highway  monuments. 

Original  milestone  75  is  at  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  South 
Creek  and  Wells  in  Bradford  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  the 
farthest  north  of  any  monument  upon  the  Parallel  Boundary. 

Milestone  80  marks  the  corner  of  the  Counties  of  Bradford  and 
Tioga,  in  Pennsylvania. 

Milestone  82,  the  only  historical  milestone  upon  the  Boundary,  at  . 
the  south  end  of  the  Pre-emption  line,  marks  the  Corner  of  Che- 
mung and  Steuben  Counties  in  New  York. 

Milestone  88  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Caton  and  Bind- 
ley in  Steuben  County. 

Sixth  Section. 

Station  Lawrenceville  to  Station  A ustinburg. 

Milestones  91,  92,  93,  91,  96,  97,  99,  101,  103,  101,  105,  106, 108 
and  109  being  in  place  were  replaced  with  new  monuments. 

Original  milestone  95  having  disappeared,  the  place  for  the  new 
monument  was  fixed  in  a westward  prolongation  of  the  line  between 
milestones  93  and  91,  which  approached  more  nearly  the  traditional 
alignment  of  the  original  monument  than  a line  between  milestones 
91  and  96.  It  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Lawrence  and 
Nelson,  in  Tioga  County,  Penn. 

Milestone  98  was  placed  in  line  between  Milestones  97  and  99. 

Milestone  100  had,  many  years  ago,  been  washed  out  by  a brook, 
beside  which  it  stood.  The  monument  was  placed  in  line  between 
Milestones  99  and  101  in  the  bottom  of  the  ravine  close  by  the 
north  side  of  the  brook.  A breakwater  of  logs  and  boulders  was 
built  up  to  protect  it  from  the  effect  of  freshets.  Its  place  can 


164 


[Senate 


hardly  be  considered  a safe  one,  however.  Milestone  100  is  at  the 
corner  of  the  Towns  of  Woodhuil  and  Tuscarora,  Steuben  County 
New  York. 

Milestone  102  was  placed  midway  in  line  between  Milestones  101 
and  103,  all  trace  of  the  original  and  its  place  having  been  lost. 
Milestone  102  marks  the  corner  of  the  towns  of  Osceola  and  Deer- 
field, Tioga  County,  Penn. 

New  Milestone  107  was  placed  in  line  between  Milestones  106  and 
108,  opposite  the  point  at  which  the  fragment  of  the  original  mile- 
stone was  found  in  1877. 

The  Fifth  Latitude  Stone,  which  originally  stood  upon  the  bank 
of  Troup's  Creek,  at  109  miles  and  36  chains,  was  wTashed  away  by  a 
freshet  many  years  since.  It  is  quite  evident  that  an  angle  existed 
in  the  line  at  this  point.  The  angular  point  was  fixed  by  the  west- 
ward prolongation  of  the  line  between  Milestones  108  and  109,  at 
of  the  distance  between  109  and  110.  No -monument  was  placed 
to  mark  this  point,  but  the  highway  monument  near  Station  Aus- 
tinburg  w.as  placed  in  line  between  the  angular  point  thus  fixed 
and  Milestone  110. 

A small  intermediate  monument  was  set  upon  the  summit  of  the 
high,  sharp  ridge  1,100  feet  west  of  Milestone  106.  From  this  point 
nearly  the  entire  distant  horizon  north  of  the  Boundary  can  be  seen, 
as  well  as  Station  Bly  of  the  New  York  State  Survey,  which  is  South 
of  the  Boundary.  The  view  to  the  eastward,  along  the  Boundary, 
reaches  over  20  miles. 

Astronomical  Station  Lawrenceville  was  marked  by  burying  a 
Station  Monument  at  the  site  of  the  Pier. 

The  number  of  inonnments  set  upon  this  Section  is : 


Milestones 19 

Highway  monuments 21 

Railroad  do  1 

Station  do  (Lawrenceville) 1 

Summit  do  1 

River  do  (Cowanesqua) 1 

New  monuments  on  Sixth  Section 44 


Of  these,  41  were  set  in  1882,  2 in  1883,  and  1 in  1884. 

Milestones  93,  94  and  95  are  also  highway  monuments. 

Milestone  94  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Bindley  and  Tus- 
carora, in  Steuben  County,  N.  Y. 

Seventh  Section.* 

Station  Austinhurg  to  Station  Genesee  Valley. 

Milestones  110,  112,  113, f 114,  115,  117,  119,  120,  121,  122,  124, 

* Sketch  No.  12  exhibits  the  crooked  portion  of  this  Section  between  Milestones 
114  and  120. 

f At  the  time  the  new  milestone  was  set  to  replace  113,  a farmer  in  the  vicinity 
insisted  that  the  old  milestone  had  been  moved  from  its  original  position.  The 
only  apparently  suspicious  circumstance  in  the  case  was  the  fact  that  it  was  almost 
exactly  in  line  between  112  and  114.  And  the  new  monument  stands  very  nearly 
where  it  would  have  been  placed  had  there  been  a reasonable  doubt  as  to  the 
integrity  of  the  original. 


E GANY  CO. 


Sketch  No.  IE. 


No.  71.] 


165 


125,  127  and  128,  being  known  to  be,  or  accepted  as,  in  place,  were 
replaced  by  new  monuments. 

Milestone  111  had  been  lost  and  the  new  monument  was  placed 
in  line  between  110  and  112. 

Milestone  116  having  been  tampered  with  and  its  place  being 
quite  uncertain,  the  point  for  the  new  monument  was  fixed  in  the 
eastward  prolongation  of  a line  from  Milestone  117  over  an  old 
stake  which  marks  the  corner  between  Ranges  V and  VI  of  Phelps 
and  Gorham’s  Purchase,  and  at  the  distance  of  28  chains,  60  links, 
from  the  corner  stake.  This  is  the  distance  between  the  range  cor- 
ner and  Milestone  116,  given  in  the  original  Field  Notes  of  Town- 
ship 1,  Range  V. 

The  Range  corner  stake  was  replaced  with  a small  plain  monu- 
ment. 

New  Milestone  118  was  fixed  in  line  between  Milestones  117 
and  119. 

Milestone  123  was  placed  midway  in  line  between  122  and  124. 

Original  milestone  126  had  many  years  ago  been  removed  in 
working  a road  laid  out  in  N.  Y.,  along  the  line,  for  about  half  a 
mile.  There  is  an  apparent  deflection  to  the  north  in  the  line  at  this 
point,  and  to  set  the  new  monument  in  line  between  Milestones  125 
and  127  would  have  placed  it  upon  the  north  side  of  the  road.  It 
was  therefore  set  in  a westward  prolongation  of  the  line  from  124  to 
125.  Milestone  126  is  also  a highway  monument. 

The  Pier  at  Station  Austinburg  was  removed  and  the  point 
marked  with  a Station  monument. 

The  whole  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  Section  is : 


Milestones 19 

Highway  Monuments 15 

Town  Corner  W.  of  116 1 

Station  Monument  (Austinburg) 1 

Intermediate  monuments 2 

New  monuments  upon  Seventh  Section 38 


Of  these  17  were  set  in  1882,  20  in  1883  and  1 in  1884. 

Milestone  115  marks  the  corner  of  the  Counties  of  Potter  and 
Tioga  in  Pennsylvania. 

Milestone  121  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Harrison  and 
Bingham,  and  Milestone  127  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of 
Bingham  and  Genesee,  in  Potter  County,  Penn. 

Eighth  Section. 

Station  Genesee  Valley  to  Station  Ceres* 

Milestones  129,  130,  132,  134,  135,  136,  137,  138,  144,  and  145 


* See  Sketch  No.  8. 


166 


[Senate 

being  in  place  and  undisputed,  they  were  replaced  with  new  monu- 
ments. 

Milestone  131  was  placed  in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  a line 
from  Milestone  132  through  the  stump  of  an  old  line  tree  standing 
at  the  roadside  about  one-fourth  mile  west  of  131. 

Milestone  133  was  placed  in  line  between  132  and  134.  It  marks 
the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Genesee  and  Oswayo  in  Potter  County, 
Penn. 

Milestone  136-|  was  set  against  the  west  edge  of  the  Sixth  Lati- 
tude Stone  which  was  left  standing  in  place. 

An  intermediate  monument  was  set  against  the  south  edge  of  the 
“ Transit  Monument  ” at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  Holland  J£nr- 
chase. 

Milestone  139  was  placed  in  a westward  prolongation  line 
from  Milestone  138  to  the  south  edge  of  the  “ Transit 

Original  Milestone  140  was  at  the  corner  of  two  Peims^ania 
Land  Districts.  The  milestone  disappeared  and  this  District  Corner 
has  for  many  years  been  marked  by  a stake  witnessed  by  marked 
trees.  The  newr  milestone  replaces  this  stake. 

Milestone  141  was  placed  in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  the  line 
drawn  from  Milestone  144  through  a New  York  Section  Corner  a 
short  distance  west  of  141. 

Milestones  142  and  143  were  placed  in  line  between  141  and  144. 

Milestones  146  and  147  were  placed  in  line  between  Milestones 
145  and  148. 

Milestone  148  was  placed  in  a westward  prolongation  of  a line 
drawn  from  Milestone  145  through  an  old  monument  marking  the 
corner  of  Sections  25  and  33  of  Township  1,  Range  2 of  the  Hol- 
land Land  Company’s  Purchase.  By  the  Records  of  Surveys  of 
this  Company  the  148  mile  tree  stood  14  chains  10  links  west  of  this 
Section  Corner.  This  distance  made  the  point  too  near  the  roots  of 
a large  Pine  tree  for  safety.  The  monument  was  therefore  placed 
two  feet  farther  west. 

Astronomical  Station  Genesee  Valley  was  marked  with  a Station 
monument. 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  Section  is  : 


Milestones 20 

Highway  monuments 18 

Railroad  do . . . 1 

Milestone  136f 1 

Holland  Purchase  Corner 1 

Station  Monument  (Genesee  Valley) 1 

Other  intermediate  monuments *4 

New  monuments  set  on  Eighth  Section 46 


Of  these  23  were  set  in  1883,  the  remainder  in  1884.  All  the 
monuments  upon  the  Parallel  Boundary  west  of  the  Eighth  Section 
were  set  in  the  latter  year. 

Milestones  142  and  144  are  also  highway  monuments. 


No.  71.] 


167 


Ninth  Section. 

Station  Ceres  to  Station  Tuna  Valley  * 

Milestones  151,  152,  154,  155,  156,  157,  159,  161,  162,  163,  164, 
and  165,  being  in  place  and  undisputed,  were  replaced  by  new  monu- 
ments. 

Milestone  149  was  set  in  a westward  prolongation  of  a line  drawn 
from  Milestone  148  through  a point  3 feet  north  of  the  north  side  of 
the  foundation  of  the  church  in  the  village  of  Ceres,  and  J of  the  dis- 
tance from  Milestone  148  to  151. 

Milestone  150  was  placed  midway  between  Milestones  149  and  151 
in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from  Milestone  151, 
through  a marked  Elm  tree  which  is  the  corner  of  two  old  Penn- 
sylvania subdivisions,  1287  feet  west  of  150. 

MilesMhie  153  was  placed  8 feet  west  of  the  point  where  it  was 
temporarily  set  up  in  1878,  and  in  a line  drawn  from  Milestone  152 
through  an  old  marked  tree  (dead  hemlock)  standing  upon  the  left 
bank  of  the  Allegany  River,  f * 

Milestone  158  was  placed  midway  in  line  between  Milestones  157 
and  159. 

* See  Sketch  No.  8. 

\ Iu  Francis  King’s  notes  of  tlie  survey  of  the  Keating  Estate  in  1802  (Appendix 

J)  occurs  the  remark “266.6  to  a blaz'1  Elm  on  the  bank  of  the 

Allegany,  278.9  to  a marked  stone  (on  the  west  bank  of  d°)  wch  we  removed  to 
302.3  p3  this  appearing  by  the  pointers  to  be  its  place.”  This  was  undoubtedly 
Milestone  153,  and  these  distances  were  from  a point  0.1  perch  east  of  152.  These 
notes  were  not  seen  until  after  this  point  had  been  passed  in  1878,  and  from  the 
failure  at  that  time  to  discover  Milestones  152  and  154,  this  memorandum  had  a 
tendency  to  throw  a shade  of  doubt  over  the  proper  location  of  the  milestone,  and 
also  upon  the  accuracy  of  the  measurements  of  the  reconnaissance.  The  original 
Boundary  map  places  153  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  apparently  where  it  was 
found  in  1878.  The  Holland  Laud  Company’s  Section  Survey  Notes  place  it  32 
feet  west  of  the  river  bank.  The  present  west  bank  is  a narrow  dyke,  partly 
artificial,  separating  the  navigable  channel  of  the  stream  from  a wide,  deep  slough 
which  extends  some  distance  in  either  direction  from  the  line.  In  the  improve- 
ment of  the  river  for  rafting  and  navigation,  years  ago,  both  banks  through  the 
low  bottom  land  were  undoubtedly  changed  and  straightened.  In  1884,  Mile- 
stones 152  and  154  were  found,  and  a careful  measurement  was  made  west  from 
the  river  to  ascertain  whether  a point  upon  the  west  bank  of  the  slough  might  not 
have  been  the  place  to  which  King  removed  the  monument,  upon  the  supposition 
that  before  the  improvement  of  the  bank  the  slough  may  have  been  mistaken  for 
part  of  the  river  channel.  It  was  found  too  wide  to  correspond  with  the  notes  ; 
and  a comparison  of  his  measurements  with  mine  after  locating  152  and  154, 
showed  comparatively  little  discrepancy  in  distance  between  these  two,  and  made 
it  apparent  that  he  intended  to  note  that  he  found  the  stone  on  the  East  bank  of 
the  river,  and  moved  it  to  the  west  bank  where  it  belonged.  This  correction  in 
his  statement  reconciles  all  discrepancies.  The  blazed  Elm  at  266.6  undoubtedly 
being  upon  the  edge  of  the  hard  land  east  of  the  river  bank  proper,  which  at  that 
time  was  low  and  swampy.  Thomas  Lightfoot  in  1810  (Appendix  J)  made  the 
distance  from  152  very  nearly  the  same  as  King,  after  the  removal.  The  distance 
between  152  and  154  is  10493  teet,  and  a point  midway  would  be  in  the  middle 
of  the  slough,  which  is  over  300  feet  wide.  After  a careful  consideration  of  all 
the  circumstances  the  nesv  milestone  was  set  5017.7  feet  west  of  152  near  where 
the  original  was  found  lying  upon  the  ground.  King’s  distance  from  152  to  the 
point  to  which  he  removed  153  was  4986.3  feet. 


168 


[Senate 


Milestone  160  was  placed  opposite  trees  which  marked  the  proba- 
ble corner  of  two  Pennsylvania  Land  Districts,  which  was  marked 
originally  by  the  milestone,  in  a westward  prolongation  of  the  line 
between  Milestones  157  and  159. 

When  the  place  for  Milestone  164  was  reached,  the  original  mile- 
stone, which  was  quite  prominently  in  sight  in  1878,  was  not  to  be 
found,  until  after  a long  search  it  was  discovered  under  a log  of  a 
large  timber  skidway,  which  had  been  laid  upon  the  ground  sur- 
rounding the  site  of  the  milestone,  for  the  storage  of  logs,  beside  a 
timber  railway.  The  original  position  of  the  milestone  was  readily 
fixed  from  the  notes  of  the  reconnaissance,  the  stakes  in  either 
direction  having  been  found  undisturbed. 

Milestones  166  and  167  were  placed  in  line  between  Milestone  165 
and  the  Seventh  Latitude  Stone  at  167rV  miles. 

Milestone  167-^  was  placed  against  the  east  side  of  the  Seventh 
Latitude  Stone,  which  was  left  standing  in  place.* 

The  pier  of  Station  Ceres  was  removed  and  a Station  monument 
buried  in  its  place. 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  Section  is  : 


Milestones 20 

Highway  monuments 15 

Railroad  do  5 

Other  intermediate  monuments 5 

Station  monument  (Ceres) 1 

New  monuments  on  Ninth  Section 46 


Milestones  149  and  166  are  also  highway  monuments. 

Tenth  Section. 

Station  Tuna  Valley  to  Station  Corydon. 

Milestones  168, 171, f 172,  173,  175,  176,  178,  179,  180,  181,  182, 

* Sketch  No.  13  exhibits  on  an  exaggerated  scale  the  extreme  deflections  in  the 
Tuna  Valley. 

f A discrepancy  in  the  longitudinal  position  of  Milestone  171  seemed  apparent 
upon  an  examination  of  the  notes  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Surveys.  In 
the  survey  of  the  Western  Transit  Meridian  (small  H.  L.  Co.,  F.  B.,  N°.  68)  the 
south  end  of  that  line  is  described  as  marked  by  a stone  monument  6.33  chains 
east  of  Milestone  171.  This  monument  was  found  with  all  the  original  witness 
trees  about  it,  but  171  was  8.31  chains  west  of  it  nearly  in  line.  The  Section 
Field  notes  of  the  “ Willink  Strip  ” place  171,  7.65  chains  west  of  the  meridian 
monument.  The  interval  between  170  and  171  is  less  than  one  mile,  and  it  was 
not  considered  advisable  to  move  the  latter,  especially  as  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany’s notes  disagreed  as  to  its  location. 

By  the  section  notes  of  the  “ Willink  Strip  ” appears  also  an  apparent  discrep- 
ancy in  the  longitudinal  position  of  Milestone  172,  which  would  place  it  consider- 
ably east  of  where  it  was  found  in  1879  But  as  its  alignment  with  the  corner 
monuments  of  the  “ Strip  ” was  nearly  perfect,  and  its  position  was  about  midway 
between  171  and  173,  taken  in  connection  with  the  uncertainty  in  the  old  notes  as  to 
the  location  of  171,  there  seemed  to  be  no  reason  for  a change,  and  the  new  monu- 
ment was  placed  where  the  old  one  stood. 


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It 


Scale,  8o  Ft.  to  / Inch. 


Scale, 2ooi  Fr.ro/ Inch. 


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’s  / / 

1 \ / / 

Mi 


of  compass  Random  of/7SZ. 

I 

j 
I 

/ 

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I \ 

^5^ 


o 


Sketch  No.  1 3. 

Showing  the  Irregularities  in  the 
Boundary  in  thoVirinity  ofthe 
Seventh  Latitude  Stone. 


4&roxun  ate  Pamllel  Ig  v ^ 



7'nna  /;,/ ’fry,/dF&. 


No.  71.] 


169 


and  183  being,  or  accepted  as,  in  place  and  undisputed,  were  replaced 
with  new  monuments. 

Milestones  169  and  170  were  placed  in  line  between  Milestones 
168  and  171. 

Milestone  174  was  placed  opposite  the  point  at  which  the  original 
was  found  lying  and  in  a westward  prolongation  of  a line  drawn 
from  Milestone  173  through  the  3 Mile  Post  upon  the  south  line  of 
Township  1,  Range  7,  of  the  Holland  Land  Company's  Purchase. 
The  latter  point  is  1052.7  feet  East  of  174  and  was  fixed  by  measure- 
ment from  the  three  original  witness  trees,  and  is  marked  by  a 
granite  monument. 

Milestone  177  is  set  midway  between  Milestones  176  and  178,  and 
in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from  Milestone  178 
through  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Red  House  and  South  Valley. 
The  latter  point  is  2534  feet  west  of  177  and  was  fixed  by  measure- 
ment from  two  of  the  original  witness  trees;  and  is  marked  with  a 
granite  monument. 

Milestone  184  replaces  the  monument  set  by  the  McKean  and 
Warren  County  Line  Commissioners  in  1873. 

The  Pier  of  Station  Tuna  Valley  was  removed  and  a Station  monu- 
ment buried  in  its  place. 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  Section  is, — 


Milestones 17 

Highway  monuments 7 

Railroad  do  1 

4‘  Transit”  do  . . 1 

Willink  Strip  Cor.  monument 1 

Other  intermediate  do  5 

Station  Monument  (Tuna  Valley) 1 

New  monuments  on  Tenth  Section 33 


Eleventh  Section. 

Station  Cary  don  to  Station  Sugar  Grove. 

Milestones  188,  189,  192,  200,  and  203  being  in  place  and  undis- 
puted were  replaced  with  new  monuments. 

Milestone  185  was  placed  at  the  distance  east  of  the  south-west 
corner  of  the  Allegany  Indian  Reservation,  given  in  the  Records  of 
Surveys  of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  and  in  a westward  prolonga- 
tion of  line  of  Milestones  183  and  184. 

Milestone  186  was  placed  at  the  distance  west  of  185  given  in  the 
Records  of  Surveys  of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  and  in  line  be- 
tween Milestones  185  and  188. 

Milestone  187  was  placed  midway  in  line  between  Milestones  186 
and  188. 

Milestone  190  was  placed  in  line  between  Milestones  189  and  191, 
opposite  the  point  at  which  a stake  was  driven  by  the  owner  of  an 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  22 


170  [Senate 

adjacent  farm  to  mark  the  spot  at  which  the  original  milestone  stood 
when  it  was  broken  down  by  a falling  tree. 

Milestone  191  was  placed  midway  between  Milestones  190  and 
192,  in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from  Milestone  192 
through  the  4 mile  post  on  the  south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  10, 
of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase.  This  point  is  1107.  L feet 
west  of  191  and  was  fixed  in  1870  by  O.  D.  Hinckley  by  measure- 
ment from  the  original  witness  trees,  and  is  now  marked  by  a granite 
monument. 

Milestone  193  was  placed  on  a gravel  knoll  5600  feet  west  of 
Milestone  192  in  line  toward  194. 

Milestone  194  was  placed  against  the  east  side  of  a large  sandstone 
monument  set  in  1871,  by  the  late  A.  T.  Prendergast.* 

Milestone  195  was  set  660  feet  East  of  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone 
at  195^-  miles,  and  in  line  toward  Milestone  194.  It  marks  the 
corner  of  the  Towns  of  Pine  Grove. and  Farmington,  in  Warren 
County,  Pennsylvania. 

Milestone  195|-  was  set  against  the  east  edge  of  the  Eighth  Lati- 
tude Stone,  which  was  left  standing  in  place. 

Milestone  196  was  placed  ■£•  mile  west  of  the  Eighth  Latitude 
Stone,  and  in  line  toward  Milestone  199. 

Milestone  197  was  placed  in  line  between  the  Eighth  Latitude 
Stone  and  Milestone  199,  opposite  the  point  at  which  a stake  was 
kept  up  by  the  owner  of  the  surrounding  land  to  mark  the  site  of 
the  original  mile-tree.  The  original  Milestone  was  found,  displaced,  a 
short  time  before  the  new  monument  was  set,  in  a stone-pile  beside 
the  road,  where  it  had  lain  for  many  years. 

Milestone  198  was  placed  midway  in  line  between  Milestones  197 
and  199. 

Milestone  199  was  placed  in  a westward  prolongation  ‘ of  a line 
drawn  from  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  through  the  2^-mile-post 
upon  the  south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  11  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company’s  Purchase,  and  at  the  distance  given  in  the  Records  of 
Surveys  of  that  Company,  west  from  the  mile-post,  to  the  position  of 
the  199  mile-tree.  The  2J-mile-post  was  marked  by  a stake  set  by 
O.  D.  Hinckley  in  1870,  by  measurement  from  an  original  witness 
tree.  The  point  is  2861.1  feet  east  of  Milestone  199  and  is  now 
marked  by  a granite  monument. 

Milestones  201  and  202  were  placed  in  line  between  200  and  203. 
As  a point  one-third  of  the  distance  between  the  last  two  milestones 
was  in  a deep  road-side  gnlly,  Milestone  201  was  placed  ten  feet  far- 
ther west,  and  202  was  set  midway  between  201  and  203. 

*Tliis  is  a fine  monument  of  sandstone  55  feet  high,  1°  feet  wide  and  6£  inches 
thick.  The  point  at  which  it  stands,  at  the  west  side  of  a highway,  was  fixed 
by  Mr.  Hinckley  by  reference  to  the  remains  of  an  old  white  oak  tree  which  for- 
merly stood  a short  distance  east  in  the  line,  and  known  for  years  as  the  ” State 
Line  Tree.”  The  late  Judge  Foote  of  Jamestown,  in  his  letter  to  Secretary 
Woolworth  in  1868,  refers  to  this  tree,  having  known  it  for  53  years.  It  was 
plainly  marked,  and  may  have  been  the  original  194  mile  tree. 


No.  71.] 


171 


The  site  of  Astronomical  Station  Corydon  was  marked  with  a 
Station  Monument. 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  section  is, — 


Milestones 

Highway  monuments 

Railroad  monuments 

Allegany  Ind.  Reservation  Corner, 

Station  monument  (Corydon) 

Other  intermediate  monuments. . . 


20 

15 

1 

1 

1 

5 


New  monuments  on  Eleventh  Section, 


43 


Milestones  180,  188,  197,  199,  and  201  are  also  highway  monu- 
ments. 


Twelfth  Section. 

Station  Sugar  Grove  to  the  South-west  Corner  of  New  York. 

Milestones  201:  and  208  being  in  place  were  replaced  with  new 
monuments.  These  were  the  only  original  milestones  found  upon 
this  section. 

Milestone  205  replaces  a sleigh-shoe  which  has  for  years  marked 
the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  Warrants  No.  243  and  193.* 

Milestone  206  was  placed  in  line  between  Milestones  205  and  207, 
opposite  a stake  set  in  1881,  by  order  of  the  Warren  County  Com- 
missioners, to  mark  the  line  between  the  Towns  of  Sugar  Grove  and 
Freehold. 

Milestone  207  replaces  three  stakes  of  different  dates  which  have 
for  years  marked  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  Warrants  No.  192  and 
187 

Milestone  209  is  placed  midway  in  line  between  Milestones  208 
and  210. 

Milestone  210  is  placed  opposite  the  position  of  an  old  stake  mark- 
ing the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  Warrants  No.  104  and  103,  in  a 
westward  prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from , Milestone  208  through 
the  3-mile-post  upon  the  south  line  of  Township  1,  Pange  13  of 
the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase.  This  point  is  a short  dis- 
tance east  of  210  and  was  marked  in  1870  by  O.  D.  Hinckley,  by 
measurement  from  original  witness  trees. 

Milestone  211  was  placed  in  the  westward  prolongation  of  the  same 
line  opposite  the  fence  which  marked  the  line  between  Pennsylvania 
Warrants  No.  103  and  292. 

Milestone  212  replaces  an  authentic  stake  set  to  mark  the  corner  of 
the  Towns  of  Columbus  and  Freehold,  Warren  County,  Penn. 

* The  original  mile  points  upon  this  Section  east  of  213  were  made  the  corners 
of  Pennsylvania  Land  Warrants  in  the  Surveys  of  1796,  and  authentic  Warrant 
corner  stakes  were  therefore  accepted  in  several  instances  in  locating  the  new 
milestones. 


172  [Senate 

Milestones  213  and  214  were  set  at  one-third  and  two-thirds  of  the 
distance,  in  line  between  Milestones  212  and  215. 

Milestone  215  was  set  at  three-sevenths  the  distance  from  Milestone 
212  to  219,  and  in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from 
Milestone  218  through  the  corner  of  Sections  17  and  25,  Township 
1,  Range  14,  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase.  This  Section 
Corner  has  long  been  marked  by  a stake  set  from  the  original  witness 
trees,  and  is  now  marked  by  a highway  monument. 

Milestones  216  and  217  were  set,  at  one-third  and  two-thirds  of 
the  distance,  in  line  between  Milestones  215  and  218. 

Milestone  218  is  set  at  one-seventh  the  distance  from  219  to  212, 
and  in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  the  line  drawn  from  Milestone 
219  through  the  corner  of  Sections  49  and  57  of  Township  1,  Range 
14,  of  the  Holland  Land  Company's  Purchase.  This  Section  Corner 
is  marked  by  a granite  monument  which  replaces  a stake  set  from 
the  original  witness  trees,  which  are  still  standing. 

Milestone  219  was  placed  in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  a line 
drawn  from  the  monument  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Hew  York 
through  the  5^-mile-post,  Township  1,  Range  15  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company’s  Purchase,  and  at  the  distance  east  of  that  mile-post 
(2002.4  feet)  given  in  the  Records  of  Surveys  of  that  Company.  The 
position  of  the  mile-post  was  fixed  by  measurement  from  the  stump 
of  the  original  cherry  witness,  and  is  now  marked  by  a highway 
monument. 

All  the  milestones  west  of  219  are  placed  in  line  between  the  Si- 
mile-post and  the  “ Corner  ” monument. 

Milestones  220  and  221  were  placed  at  the  distance,  east  and  west, 
respectively,  from  the  corner  of  Sections  9 and  17  of  Towuship  1, 
Range  15  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase,  as  given  in  the 
Records  of  Surveys  of  that  Company. 

Milestones  222,  223  and  224  were  placed  at  one-fourth,  one-half, 
and  three-fourths  the  distance  from  Milestone  221  to  225,  which, 
according  to  measurements  made  in  1802  by  a Pennsylvania  Deputy 
Surveyor  (Cochran)  was  825  feet  west  of  the  “ Corner.” 

The  stake  in  the  center  of  the  road  which  marked  the  u Corner” 
of  the  State  of  Hew  York,  at  the  south  end  of  the  Meridian  Bound- 
ary, was  replaced  by  a small  monument  set  flush  with  the  surface  of 
the  road.  A large  monument  similar  to  that  set  near  the  Initial 
Point  was  set  in  the  meridian  100  feet  Horth. 

The  piers  of  Station  Sugar  Grove  and  Clark  were  removed  and 
replaced  with  Station  monuments.  The  cap-stone  of  the  pier  of  the 
latter  Station  was  imbedded  in  place  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground 
over  the  monument,  and  a monument  was  set  in  the  road  at  the  in- 
tersection of  the  Boundary  with  the  Meridian  of  the  Station,  69.32 
feet  north  of  the  latter. 

The  number  of  monuments  set  upon  this  section  is, — 


Milestones 21 

Highway  monuments. 30 


No.  71.] 


173 


Railroad  monuments 2 

“Corner"  do  1 

Station  do  (Sugar  Grove  and  Clark) 2 

Other  intermediate  monuments 1 

New  monuments  on  Twelfth  Section 57 


Milestones  214,  217,  219,  220,  221,  222, 223  and  224  are  also  high- 
way monuments. 

A large  boulder  upon  which  was  cut  a cross,  marking  the  corner 
of  Sections  41  and  49  of  Township  1,  Range  13  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company’s  Purchase,  was  reset  in  line  between  Milestones  211  and 
212,  at  the  request  of  the  owners  of  the  adjacent  lands. 

Sketch  No.  14  exhibits  upon  an  exaggerated  scale  the  condition 
of  this  section  west  of  Milestone  208,  and  the  manner  in  which  it 
was  adjusted. 

The  whole  number  of  new  monuments  which  have  been  placed 
upon  the  Parallel  Boundary  is  as  follows : 


First  Section 55 

Second  do  41 

Third  do  : 52 

Fourth  do  31 

Fifth  do  . 49 

Sixth  do  44 

Seventh  do  38 

Eighth  do  46 

Ninth  do  46 

Tenth  do  33 

Eleventh  do  43 

Twelfth  do  57 


535 


Recapitulation 
By  Counties  in  New  York. 


Broome  (including  2 in  Delaware) 91 

Tioga ...  67 

Chemung 53 

Steuben 86 

Allegany 66 

Cattaraugus. 87 

Chautauqua 85 


535 

Recapitulation 

By  Counties  in  Pennsylvania. 


Wayne  (including  2 in  Delaware  County,  N.  Y) 15 

, Susquehanna..  85 

Bradford 107 

k Tioga 74 

Potter. 68 


174  [Senate 

McKean 82 

Warren.  79 

Erie 25 


585 

Add  to  these  the  number  set  upon  the  Meridian  Boundary,  1884-5 51 

Making  the  aggregate  number  of  granite  monuments  upon  the  entire  Boundary  580 


Of  the  milestones,  thirty-nine  upon  the  Parallel  and  four  upon  the 
Meridian,  are  classed  in  the  u Record  ” as  highway  monuments. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  work  upon  the  Meridian  Boundary  in 
1885,  a portion  of  the  party  was  transferred  to  the  eastern  extremity 
of  the  Parallel  Boundary,  and  surveys  were  made  for  a topographical 
sketch  of  Delaware  River  at  the  intersection  of  the  Boundary.  A 
few  notes  were  also  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  Waverly,  and  the  line 
west  of  that  place,  for  the  purpose  of  locating  the  line  of  the  new 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  upon  the  map. 

Appendix  B contains  descriptions  of  the  locations  of  the  milestones, 
with  memoranda  for  their  ready  identification. 

Appendix  C is  a table  of  the  Angular  Deflections  at  the  various 
milestones,  and  will  be  found  useful  to  surveyors  who  may  wish  to 
retrace  any  portion  of  the  Line. 

Appendix  E contains  descriptions  of  the  location  of  the  various 
County  and  Town  Corners  along  the  Boundary. 


No.  71.] 


175 


MERIDIAN  BOUNDARY. 


Preliminary  Historical  Sketch. 

New  York,  both  as  a Province  and  as  a State,  had  no  fixed  west- 
ern boundary  until  the  year  1790,  at  which  time  the  present  limit 
of  the  State,  in  that  direction,  was  definitely  ascertained  and 
marked  by  milestones  from  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  the 
parallel  of  42°,  which  parallel  was  until  about  the  same  time,  the 
only  dividing  line  between  this  State  and  Pennsylvania,  This 
western  Boundary,  unlike  many  other  portions  of  the  several  di- 
viding lines  which  separate  our  territory  from  neighboring  States, 
has  never  been,  at  any  subsequent  period,  the  subject  of  controversy, 
and  for  this  reason  its  history  is  perhaps  less  known  than  that  of  our 
northern,  eastern  or  southern  limits.  That  there  is  but  little  extant 
information  on  this  subject,  and  that  those  who  have  been  presumed 
to  know  the  facts  in  the  case  have  not  been  fully  aware  of  these 
facts,  may  be  apparent  from  the  following  statement : 

During  the  year  1865,  Dr.  Peters,  the  Director  of  the  Observatory 
of  Hamilton  College,  was  employed  by  the  State  under  the  direction 
of  the  Regents  of  the  University  and  the  Trustees  of  Hamilton 
College,  in  continuation  of  a series  of  similar  scientific  determina- 
tions, to  ascertain  the  precise  longitude  of  the  Boundary  line  in 
question.  In  connection  with  this  enterprise  an  inquiry  naturally 
arose  as  to  when,  how , and  by  whom  this  line  was  originally  run  and 
marked  with  monuments  of  a more  or  less  permanent  character. 
As  Dr.  Peters  was  primarily  in  the  service  of  the  College,  he  was 
accustomed  to  counsel  with  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Hon.  O.  S. 
Williams,  to  whom  this  historical  inquiry  was  first  referred.  Judge 
Williams,  of  course,  consulted  the  Revised  Statutes,  as  the  standard 
authority  on  such  subjects.  Mention  being  there  made  of  a survey 
made  by  certain  Commissioners  in  1787,  and  of  the  erection  by 
them  of  a certain  monument  at  the  southern  terminus  of  the  said 
western  boundary,  Judge  Williams  began  to  look  for  further  de- 
tails in  such  works  as  were  at  hand.  The  search,  however,  revealed 
nothing,  and  a letter  was  accordingly  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Regents,  asking  that  search  be  made  with  the  sup- 
posed ample  facilities  of  the  State  Library  and  the  State  Records  for 
answering  the  proposed  inquiries.  The  subject  has  received  special 
attention,  with  a view  of  ascertaining  the  truth,  and  as  far  as  possi- 
ble the  whole  truth  in  relation  to  it ; but  this  research,  contrary  to 
expectation,  has  required  whole  months  of  patient  labor  ; and  even 
now  the  story  can  be  but  partly  told,  owing  to  the  imperfection  of 
the  scattered  records  pertaining  to  it,  and  the  probable  destruction 


176 


[Senate 


of  some  of  the  most  important  documents  relating  thereto.* 
Enough,  however,  has  been  ascertained  to  justify  the  affirmation 
that  even  the  Revised  Statutes  are  not  historically  correct,  and  that 
the  hitherto  unwritten  history  of  the  western  Boundary  of  the  State 
is  one  of  singular  interest  and  worthy  of  careful  investigation.  It 
is  the  object  of  the  present  paper  to  sketch  the  outline  of  such  a 
history,  or  rather  of  the  materials  thus  far  available  for  such  a pur- 
pose. 

As  fundamental  to  the  main  subject,  it  is  important  to  ascertain 
how  far  westward  New  York  was  supposed  to  extend  prior  to  the 
final  establishment  of  a fixed  Boundary  in  that  direction. 

The  original  Dutch  settlers  of  New  Netherland,  belonging  to  an 
eminently  coast- wise  and  sea-faring  race,  seem  to  have  cared  far 
more  to  extend  their  settlements  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  the 
tidal  current  of  the  Hudson,  than  to  penetrate  the  interior  farther 
than  their  sailing  craft  could  carry  them ; for  which  reason  not  less, 
perhaps,  than  the  insecurity  of  a frontier  life,  New  York  has  not 
been  at  any  time  a distinctively  Dutch  Province,  except  along  the 
valley  of  the  Hudson  and  the  lower  portion  of  the  Mohawk.  It  ac- 
cords with  this  tendency  of  the  Dutch  race,  that  during  the  entire 
period  of  their  controversy  with  the  English,  for  the  sovereignty  of 
this  Province,  they  were  very  strenuous  in  their  claims  respecting 
lands  lying  along  the  sea  and  the  larger  rivers,  that  is,  to  a belt  of 
territory  stretching  north-east  and  south-westward  along  the  Atlantic 
Coast,  while  they  seem  to  have  thought  or  cared  little  to  avail  them- 
selves of  any  considerable  breadth  of  territory  to  the  north-westward. 
Still  there  are  some  allusions  which  indicate  that  the  Dutch  claimed 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  interior,  as  far  as  to  the  Lakes  and  the  St.  Law- 
rence, partly  on  the  ground  of  actual  occupancy  by  pioneer  settlers, 
and  adventurers  of  their  own.  The  English  having  wrested  the 
province  from  the  Dutch  and  coming  in  collision  with  the  adverse 
claims  of  the  French,  were  wont  to  use  every  argument — except  that 
of  prior  occupancy,  which  they  were  forced  to  concede  to  the 
French,  — to  establish  title  to  the  frontier  territory  in  dispute  between 
the  two  nations,  and  they  even  refer  to  the  ancient  claims  of  the 
Dutch  in  the  same  direction,  as  giving  additional  validity  to  their 
own  title. 

The  first  specific  recommendation  or  opinion  respecting  New  York 
Boundaries  in  the  direction  of  the  interior,  so  far  as  we  have  observed, 
is  that  of  William  Penn  in  1700,  who  proposes  the  St.  Lawrence  and 
the  Lakes  as  the  proper  and  natural  Boundary  between  the  English 
and  the  French;  and  it  is  not  a little  remarkable  that  his  judgment 
in  this  matter  was  followed  more  than  three-fourths  of  a century  later, 
by  the  Commissioners  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States,  in  negotiating  a mutual  Boundary  line  between  these  two 
sovereign  powers. 

The  next  step  in  advance  was  based  upon  the  fact  that  the  Six 


* See  Regents’  Boundary  Report,  i,  316-329. 


fNo.  71.] 


177 


Nations  acknowledged  themselves,  even  from  the  first  settlement  of 
the  Colony,  subject  to  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  it  was  there- 
fore claimed  that  the  territory  occupied  by  them  as  hunting  ground, 
whether  north  or  south  of  the  chain  of  Lakes,  belonged  to  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Colony  or  Province  of  New  York.  This  gave  rise  to 
a claim  which  was  in  due  time  distinctly  preferred,  that  the  Province 
of  New  York  included  all  the  territory  north  of  the  Pennsylvania 
line  as  far  west  as  Lake  Huron,  and  as  far  north  as  the  Province  of 
Quebec,  which  latter  Province  as  defined  by  the  royal  proclamation  of 
1763  did  not  extend  further  south  than  the  parallel  of  45°,  until  the 
Imperial  Act  of  1774,  extending  the  boundaries  of  Quebec  further 
southward,  and  adding  another  to  the  list  of  grievances  of  which  the 
Colonies  complained,  and  for  which  they  finally  disavowed  their  alle- 
giance to  the  Crown. 

The  conclusion  to  which  our  researches  on  this  point  lead  is,  that 
at  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  New  York  assumed  to  extend  to  the 
utmost  limits  before  named,  and  that  her  claim  wTas  recognized  and 
respected  by  the  sister  States.  Indeed  we  have  met  with  but  one 
opinion  or  expression  derogatory  to  that  claim,  though  that  one,  it 
must  be  conceded,  is  one  entitled  to  some  regard,  being  no  less  than 
James  Madison  himself,  who  insinuates,  more  in  the  style  of  a Vir- 
ginia politician  than  statesman,  that  the  claims  of  New  York  to  a 
large  extent  of  western  territory,  were  preferred  rather  for  the  sake 
of  making  capital  from  the  professed  relinquishment  of  those  claims 
for  the  general  good  of  the  Confederation  than  from  any  serious  con- 
viction of  their  validity.* 

By  the  terms  of  their  ancient  Charters,  some  of  the  Colonies,  par- 
ticularly Connecticut,  Massachusetts  and  Yirginia,  claimed  all  the 
territory  within  certain  limits  of  latitude  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific  or  “ South  Sea  ” so  called,  excepting  of  course,  in  the  case  of 
Massachusetts,  so  much  as  was  actually  occupied  by  the  Province  of 
New  York.  As  the  limits  of  the  latter  were  not  positively  established, 
there  was  controversy  between  the  two  Provinces  in  regard  to  not 
only  the  eastern  but  also  the  western  Boundary  of  New  York, 
although  the  dispute  in  the  latter  case  was  less  violent  than  in  the 
former.  Governor.  Tryon,  in  an  elaborate  argument  made  in  the 
form  of  a report  in  the  year  1774,  exhibits  the  New  York  side  of  the 
case  and  disclaims  any  valid  title  on  the  part  of  Massachusetts  not- 
withstanding the  terms  of  her  Charter,  to  any  portion  of  . territory 
west  of  New  York.f  The  question,  however,  remained  an  open  one 
and  the  claims  of  Massachusetts  seem  to  have  been  respected  in  the 
diplomacy  of  the  period  ending  with  the  establishment  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  Colonies.  The  indefiniteness  which  characterized 
the  description  of  the  original  bounds  of  these  and  other  Colonies, 

* “ The  claim  of  New  York  is  very  extensive,  but  her  title  very  flimsy.  She 
urges  it  more  with  the  hope  of  obtaining  some  advantage  or  credit  by  the  cession 
than  of  ever  maintaining  it.”  [From  “ a sketch  of  the  State  of  Opinions  in  the  Old 
Congress,  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Madison.”]  Sparks’  Washington,  viii,  547. 

f N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  viii,  434,  etc. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


23 


178 


[Senate 


their  territories  in  some  cases  obviously  overlapping  each  other,  laid 
the  foundation  for  serious  disputes  during  the  Colonial  period,  and 
Tor  still  more  serious  controversy  when  the  States  became  independ- 
ent of  the  Crown  and  assumed  the  ultimate  sovereignty  of  these  vast 
domains.  Hence,  the  subject  of  the  territorial  extent  of  the  several 
States,  and  of  the  ownership  of  the  vast  unoccupied  territory  formerly 
claimed  by  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain  and  known  as  the  “ Crown 
Lands,”  became  one  of  the  most  important  questions  which  came  under 
the  cognizance  of  the  Continental  Congress.  As  the  States  were  en- 
tering into  an  arduous  and  expensive  struggle  for  independence,  and 
as  some  were  comparatively  rich  and  others  poor  in  respect  of  terri- 
tory, and  prospective  revenue  arising  therefrom,  the  States  which  by 
their  original  charters  were  limited  to  definite  Boundaries  insisted 
that  the  others  should  relinquish  for  the  general  good,  a portion,  at 
least,  of  their  western  territory.  The  larger  States,  however,  were 
not  so  indifferent  to  their  newly  assumed  position  of  sovereign  States, 
nor  so  ready  to  invest  more  than  their  relative  proportion  in  a con- 
flict of  doubtful  issue,  as  to  yield  a ready  assent  to  the  claims  prefer- 
red by  the  smaller  States.  When  the  Articles  of  Confederation  and 
Perpetual  Union  were  proposed  and  submitted  to  the  several  States 
for  ratification,  this  subject  of  the  western  lands  interposed  the  last 
and  only  really  serious  obstacle,  and  the  delegates  of  several  of  the 
States  in  Congress  were  instructed  to  insist  upon  a recognition  of 
their  respective  claims  in  this  respect,  before  subscribing  to  the 
Articles  of  Confederation.  As  Congress  had  no  authority  to  enforce 
these  claims  upon  the  States  concerned,  the  only  practicable  method 
of  solving  the  difficulty  was  merely  to  urge  upon  the  States  the  duty 
of  mutual  concession  in  view  of  the  necessity  of  united  action  in  the 
face  of  a common  and  powerful  foe.  While  urging  this  duty  of  con- 
cession upon  the  larger  States,  the  smaller  were  encouraged  to  hope 
that  the  progress  of  liberal  sentiments  and  the  obvious  importance 
of  a permanent  Union, would  finally  secure  all  that  they  claimed,  even 
though  for  the  present  denied.  This  mediation  on  the  part  of  Con- 
gress availed  to  secure  the  ratification  on  the  part  of  each  State  ex- 
cept Maryland,  although  some  of  the  other  States  signed  the  Articles 
under  protest.  Maryland  stoutly  refused  to  sign  until  the  land 
question  should  be  finally  and  satisfactorily  settled,  and  for  more  than 
two  years  from  1779,  her  signature  alone  was  wanting  to  complete 
the  formal  Union  of  the  States  under  the  Confederation.  The  wis- 
dom and  influence  of  Congress  was  taxed  to  the  utmost  in  the  ineffect- 
ual attempt  to  induce  the  rival  States  to  agree  upon  terms  of  settle- 
ment, and  although  no' State  absolutely  withdrew  her  aid  from  the 
war,  there  was  imminent  danger  that  the  league  thus  far  devoid  of 
any  binding  obligation  would  soon  be  totally  dissolved,  especially  if 
reverses  in  the  field  should  ensue.  The  language  of  the  official  docu- 
ments of  that  period  is  conclusive  as  to  the  forebodings  which  filled 
the  minds  of  the  leading  statesmen  of  that  period  with  reference  to 
the  issue  of  this  bitter  controversy.  In  this,  which  was,  perhaps, 


No.  71.] 


179 


more  than  any  other,  the  very  crisis  of  our  affairs  and  prospects  as  an 
united  and  independent  people,  one  man  and  one  State  undertook  the 
task  which  many  men  and  many  States  in  their  collective  capacity 
had  thus  far  failed  to  accomplish.  And  here  it  is  not  a little  remark- 
able that  the  agency  of  this  man,  and  this  State  by  her  voluntary  act, 
has  been  either  wholly  or  partially  overlooked  by  our  standard  his- 
torians.* 

At  the  Suggestion  of  G-eneral  Schuyler  New  York  takes  the 

Initiative. 

At  this  juncture  General  Philip  Schuyler,  one  of  the  delegates  from 
New  York,  addressed  a letter  to  the  Legislature  of  that  State  under 
date  of  29  January,  1780.  This  letter  is  as  follows : 

“ Gentlemen.  Concieving  it  my  Duty  as  a servant  of  the  State  to 
advise  the  Legislature  of  any  Occurrences  in  Congress  which  may 
immediately  affect  either  the  Honor  or  the  Weal  of  the  State,  I beg 
Leave  to  inform  the  honorable  Houses  in  which  you  respectively 
preside  of  some  Matters  which  I intended  to  have  conveyed  thro’ 
liis  Excellency  the  Governor,  supposing  that  to  be  the  proper  Chan- 
nel of  Communication  : but  was  prevented  by  his  leaving  the  City, 
and  as  I humbly  concieve  the  Subject  worthy  the  immediate  Atten- 
tion of  the  Legislature  and  that  Evils  may  possibly  arise  from  Delay, 
I have  taken  the  Liberty  to  address  myself  to  you,  trusting  that  his 
Excellency’s  Candor  and  that  of  the  Legislature  will  excuse  the  Im- 
propriety if  it  should  be  deemed  one. 

•’  Deeply  impressed  with  a Sense  of  the  intrinsic  Advantages  which 
would  probably  result  to  the  United  States  in  general,  and  this  in 
particular,  from  a perfect  and  permanent  Beconciliation  with  an 
Enemy  so  formidable  to  a weak  and  extensive  Frontier  as  fatal  Ex- 
perience has  evinced  the  Indians  to  be,  to  whom  Distance  of  Situa- 
tion seems  no  great  Obstacle  to  prevent  or  retard  their  Incursions  ; 
reflecting,  with  the  most  anxious  Concern,  on  the  Desolation  and 
Variety  of  Distress  incident  on  a Savage  War;  apprehensive  that 
they  would  consider  themselves  without  any  Alternative  but  that  of 
recommencing  Hostilities ; dreading  the  Effects  of  a consequent 
Desperation  on  their  part ; firmly  believing  that  the  greatly  deranged 
State  of  the  public  Finances  would  render  it  exceedingly  difficult  to 
procure  the  necessary  Supplies  for  that  Army  only  which  must  keep 
the  Enemy’s  Force  on  the  Sea  Board  in  Check ; doubtful  whether 
detachments  of  sufficient  Force  to  protect  the  Frontiers  could  be 
spared  from  our  Army  whilst  the  British  retained  their  present 
position  ; aware  of  the  Distresses  and  Expence  incident  on  calling 
forth  the  Militia  for  the  purpose  ; convinced  that  an  Obstacle  of  very 
interesting  Importance  would  be  removed  if  Events  should  happily 
arise  which  would  permit  us  to  turn  our  Attention  to  the  Deduction 

* The  first  part  of  this  Sketch  of  the  History  of  the  Meridian  Boundary  was  pre- 
pared by  the  late  Dr.  D.  J.  Pratt,  and  was  left  incomplete  at  his  death. 


180 


[Senate 


of  Canada  or  the  Enemies  Fortresses  in  the  interior  parts  of  the 
Country ; persuaded  that  no  farther  offensive  Operations  could  be 
prosecuted  against  the  Savages  with  any  probable  prospect  of  ade- 
quate Advantage  I embraced  the  earliest  opportunity  to  advise  Con- 
gress of  the  Overtures  made  by  the  Cayugas,  and  took  the  liberty 
strongly  to  point  at  the  Necessity  of  an  Accomodation  with  all  the 
Savages : but  not  being  honored  with  an  Answer  as  early  as  the  Im- 
portance of  the  Object  seemed  to  require,  and  wishing  to  improve  the 
Advantage  which  the  first  Impulse  occasioned  by  the  Disaster  the 
Indians  had  experienced  would  probably  afford  us,  I hastened  to  Con- 
gress to  sollicit  their  Determination  which  was  obtained  on  the 

November  last,  Copy  whereof  I have  the  Honor  to  enclose. 

“ Whilst  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Business  I have 
alluded  to  was  under  Consideration  a Member  moved  in  substance 
‘ That  the  Commissioners  for  Indian  Affairs  in  the  Northern  Depart- 
ment should  require  from  the  Indians  of  the  six  Nations,  as  a pre- 
liminary Article,  a Cession  of  part  of  their  Country,  and  that  the 
Territory  so  to  be  ceded  should  be  for  the  Benefit  of  the  United 
States  in  general  & grantable  by  Congress.5  A Measure  so  evidently 
injurious  to  this  State  exceedingly  alarmed  and  chagrined  those  whose. 
Duty  it  was  to  attend  to  its  Interests.  They  animadverted  with 
Severity  on  the  unjustifiable  principle  held  up  in  the  Motion  ; the 
pernicious  Consequence  of  divesting  a State  of  its  undoubted  property 
in  such  an  extrajudicial  Manner  was  forcibly  urged  ; the  Apprehen- 
sions with  which  it  would  fill  and  affect  the  Minds  of  a people  who 
had  been  as  firm  in  the  present  glorious.  Contest ; who  had  made 
more  strenuous  and  efficacious  Exertions  to  support  it ; had  suffered 
more  and  still  suffered  as  much  as  any  were  strongly  painted.  The 
Improbability  that  the  Indians  would  accede  to  a Reconciliation  when 
such  a preliminary  was  insisted  upon  was  observed  by  many  Mem- 
bers & urged  on  a Variety  of  Considerations.  The  Gentlemen  in 
Favor  of  the  Motion  attempted  to  support  it  on  the  general  Ground 
that  what  was  acquired  or  conquered  at  the  common  Expence  ought 
to  enure  to  the  common  Benefit : that  the  Lands  in  Question,  altho’ 
they  might  be  comprehended  within  the  Limits  of  the  State  of  New 
York  (which  however  was  not  acknowledged)  was  not  the  property 
of  the  State,  that  being  either  in  the  Natives  or  by  Right  of  Con- 
quest in  the  United  States.  The  Motion  was  nevertheless  after  some 
farther  desultory  Debate  rejected : but  from  what  drop’d  in  the 
Debate  we  had  Reason  to  apprehend  that  several  who  were  opposed 
to  the  Motion  founded  their  Opposition  on  the  Necessity  of  a Recon- 
ciliation with  the  Indians,  against  which,  they  imagined  the  Spirit  of 
the  Motion  would  militate  — and  we  had  a few  Days  after  a con- 
vincing proof  that  an  Idea  prevailed  that  this  and  some  other  States 
ought  to  be  divested  of  part  of  their  Territory  for  the  Benefit  of  the 
United  States,  when  a Member  afforded  us  the  perusal  of  a Resolu- 
tion for  which  he  intended  to  move  the  House  purporting  4 that  all 
the  Lands  within  the  Limits  of  any  of  the  United  States,  heretofore 


No.  71.] 


ISi 


grantable  by  the  King  of  Great  Britain  whilst  these  States  (then 
Colonies)  were  in  the  Dominion  of  that  prince,  and  which  had  not 
been  granted  to  Individuals  should  be  considered  as  the  joint  prop- 
erty of  the  United  States  and  disposed  of  by  Congress  for  the  Benetit 
of  the  whole  Confederacy.’  The  Necessity  and  propriety  of  such  an 
Arrangement  was  strenuously  insisted  upon,  in  private  Conversation, 
and  even  supported  by  Gentlemen  who  represented  States  in  Circum- 
stances seemingly  similar  to  ours  with  Respect  to  the  Object  of  the 
intended  Resolution.  It  was  observed  that  if  such  States  whose 
Bounds  were  either  indefinite  or  were  pretended  to  extend  to  the 
South  Seas  would  consent  to  a reasonable  Western  Limitation,  that 
it  would  supercede  the  Necessity  of  any  intervention  by  Congress 
other  than  that  of  permanently  establishing  the  Bounds  of  each  State: 
prevent  Controversy  and  remove  the  Obstacle  which  prevented  the 
Completion  of  the  Confederation.  As  this  State  would  be  eminently 
affected  by  such  a Measure  it  was  deemed  of  Importance  as  fully  to 
investigate  their  Intentions  as  could  be  done  consistent  with  that 
Delicacy  and  prudence  to  be  observed  on  so  interesting  an  Occasion 
and  a Wish  was  accordingly  expressed,  as  arising  from,  mere  Curi- 
osity, to  know  their  Idea  of  a reasonable  Western  Limitation.  This 
they  gave  by  exhibiting  a Map  of  the  Country,  on  which  they  drew  a 
Line  from  the  North  west  Corner  of  Pennsylvania  (which  on  that 
Map  was  laid  down  as  in  Lake  Erie)  thro’  the  Strait  that  leads  to  On- 
tario and  thro’  that  Lake  and  down  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  forty- 
fifth  Degree  of  Latitude  for  the  Bounds  of  this  State  in  that  Quarter. 
Virginia,  the  two  Carolinas  and  Georgia  they  propose  to  restrict  bv 
the  Alleghany  Mountains,  or  at  farthest  by  the  Ohio  to  where  that 
River  enters  the  Mississippi  and  by  the  latter  River  to  the  south 
Bounds  of  Georgia  — That  all  the  Territory  to  the  west  of  those 
Limits  should  become  the  property  of  the  Confederacy.  We  found 
this  Matter  had  been  in  Contemplation  some  Time,  the  Delegates 
from  North  Carolina  having  then  already  requested  Instructions  from 
their  Constituents  on  the  Subjects,  and  my  Colleagues  were  in  Sen- 
timent with  me  that  it  should  be  humbly  submitted  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, if  it  would  not  be  proper  to  communicate  their  pleasure  in  the 
premises  by  Way  of  Instruction  to  their  Servants  in  Congress. 

“ I am  gentlemen  with  great  respect  & esteem  Your  most  obe- 
dient Humble  Servant  Pll  : SCHUYLER. 

“ The  Honble  Pierre  Yan  Cortlandt  and  Evert  Banker  Esqrs.”* 

The  New  York  Legislature  took  prompt  action  upon  the  sugges- 
tions of  this  informal  message,  and  passed  19  February, — 

“ An  Act  to  facilitate  the  Completion  of  the  Articles  of  Confed- 
eration and  perpetual  Union  among  the  United  States  of  America. 

“ Whereas  nothing  under  Divine  Providence,  can  more  effectually 
contribute  to  the  Tranquillity  and  Safety  of  the  United  States  of 

* N.  Y.  Legis.  Papers  (MS.),  No.  1544.  Van  Cortlandt  was  Lieutenant-Governor 
and  President  of  the  Senate,  and  Bancker  was  Speaker  of  the  Assembly. 


182 


[Senate’ 


America,  than  a federal  Alliance  on  such  liberal  Principles  as  will 
give  Satisfaction  to  its  respective  Members ; And  whereas  the  Arti- 
cles of  Confederation  and  perpetual  Union,  recommended  by  the 
Honourable  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  America , have  not 
proved  acceptable  to  all  the  States,  it  having  been  conceived,  that  a 
Portion  of  the  Waste  and  uncultivated  Territory,  within  the  Limits 
or  Claims  of  certain  States,  ought  to  be  appropriated,  as  a common 
Fund  for  the  Expenses  of  the  War  : And  the  People  of  this  State  of 
New  York,  being,  on  all  Occasions,  disposed  to  manifest  their  Begard 
for  their  Sister  States,  and  their  earnest  desire  to  promote  the  general 
Interest  and  Security,  and  more  especially  to  accelerate  the  federal 
Alliance,  by  removing,  as  far  as  it  depends  upon  them,  the  before 
mentioned  Impediment  to  its  final  Accomplishment ; 

“ I.  Be  it  therefore  Enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  represented  in  Senate  and  Assembly , and  it  is  hereby  Enacted 
by  the  Authority  of  the  same,  That  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful,  to 
and  for  the  Delegates  of  this  State,  in  the  Honourable  Congress  of 
the  United  States  of  America , or  the  major  Part  of  such  of  them  as 
shall  be  assembled  in  Congress  ; and  they  the  said  Delegates,  or  the 
major  Part  of  them,  so  assembled,  are  hereby  fully  authorised 
and  empowered,  for  and  on  Behalf  of  this  State,  and  by  proper  and 
anthentic  Acts  or  Instruments,  to  limit  and  restrict  the  Boundaries 
of  this  State  in  the  Western  Parts  thereof,  by  such  Line  or  Lines, 
and  in  such  Manner  and  Form,  as  they  shall  judge  to  be  expedient, 
either  with  Bespect  to  the  Jurisdiction,  as  well  as  the  Bight  or  Pre- 
emption of  soil ; or  reserving  the  Jurisdiction  in  Part,  or  in  the 
Whole,  over  the  lands  which  may  be  ceded  or  relinquished,  with 
Bespect  only  to  the  Bight  or  Pre-emption  of  the  Soil. 

“ II.  And  be  it  further  Enacted  by  the  Authority  aforesaid. 
That  the  Territory  which  may  be  ceded  or  relinquished  by  virtue  of 
this  Act,  either  with  Bespect  to  the  Jurisdiction  as  well  as  the  Bight 
or  Pre-emption  of  Soil,  or  the  Bight  or  Pre-emption  of  Soil  only ; 
shall  be,  and  enure  for  the  Use  and  Benefit  of  such  of  the  United 
States,  as  shall  become  Members  of  the  federal  Alliance  of  the  said 
States,  and  for  no  other  Use  or  Purpose  whatsoever. 

“ III.  And  be  it  further  Enacted  by  the  Authority  aforesaid , 
That  all  the  Lands  to  be  ceded  and  relinquished  by  Virtue  of  this 
Act,  for  the  Benefit  of  the  United  States,  with  Bespect  to  Property; 
but  which  shall  nevertheless  remain  under  the  Jurisdiction  of  this 
State ; shall  be  disposed  of  and  appropriated  in  such  Manner  only, 
as  the  Congress  of  the  said  States  shall  direct;  and  that  a Warrant, 
under  the  Authority  of  Congress,  for  Surveying  and  laying  out  any 
Part  thereof,  shall  entitle  the  Party,  in  whose  Favour  it  shall  issue,  to 
cause  the  same  to  be  surveyed,  and  laid  out,  and  returned,  according 
to  the  Directions  of  such  Warrant;  and  thereupon,  Letters  patent 
under  the  Great  Seal  of  this  State,  shall  pass  to  the  Grantee  for  the 
Estate  specified  in  the  said  Warrant ; for  which,  no  other  Fee  or 
Beward  shall  be  demanded,  or  received,  than  such  as  shall  be  allowed 
by  Congress. 


N o.  71.] 


183 


“ IY.  Provided  always , and  be  it  further  Enacted  by  the  Au- 
thority aforesaid , That  the  Trust  reposed  by  Virtue  of  this  Act, 
shall  not  be  executed  by  the  Delegates  of  this  State,  unless,  at  least 
three  of  the  said  Delegates  shall  be  present  in  Congress.”* 

And  at  the  same  time  the  Legislature  adopted  the  following : 
“ Instructions  . ...  to  their  delegates  in  the  Honourable 

Congress  of  the  United  States  of  America.” 

“Whereas  by  an  Act  passed  at  this  present  meeting  of  the  Legis- 
lature held  at  the  city  of  Albany  Entitled  An  Act  to  facilitate  the 
Completion  of  the  articles  of  Confederation  & perpetual  Union 
among  the  United  States  of  America. 

“You  the  said  delegates  are  authorized  to  limit  and  restrict  the 
boundaries  of  this  State  In  the  western  parts  thereof  by  such  line  or 
lines  and  in  such  manner  and  form  as  you  for  the  purposes  mentioned 
in  the  said  act  shall  Judge  expedient.  And  whereas;  It  is  Con- 
ceived necessary  in  a business  of  such  high  moment  to  the  state  that 
you  should  be  Instructed  by  the  legislature  m the  Discharge  of  the 
trust  reposed  in  you  by  the  Said  Act : You  are  therefore  directed 

in  limiting  the  said  boundaries  to  Insist  on  the  following  propositions 
in  the  order  in  which  they  stand  viz1 : 

“ 1st.  On  a line  from  the  North  East  Corner  of  Pennsylvania  along 
the  north  bounds  thereof  to  Its  north-west  Corner  and  Continued 
from  thence  untill  It  Intersects  a Meridian  Line  drawn  from  the  45tn 
degree  of  North  Lattitude  thro  a point  ten  miles  due  west  from  the 
most  westerly  Bent  or  Inclination  of  the  Strait  between  Lake  Erie 
and  Lake  Sl  Clair ; Thence  bv  the  said  Meridian  line  to  the  45th 
degree  of  North  lattitude  and  thence  by  the  said  45th  degree  of 
North  lattitude. 

“ 2dly.  On  a line  from  the  North  East.  Corner  of  Pennsylvania 
along  the  north  bounds  thereof  to  Its  north  west  Corner  and  Con- 
tinued from  thence  until  It  Intersects  a Meridian  Line  drawn  from 
the  44th  degree  of  North  Lattitude  thro  a point  ten  miles  due  west 
from  the  most  westerly  bent  or  Inclination  of  the  Strait  between 
Lake  Erie  and  Lake  St.  Clair  thence  by  the  Said  Meridian  line  to  the 
44th  degree  of  North  lattitude  Thence  by  the  said  44th  degree  of 
North  Lattitude  to  lake  Ontario  or  the  River  Sl.  Lawrence  Thence 
down  the  north  banks  of  the  Said  Lake  and  the  Said  river  to  the 
45th  degree  of  north  Lattitude,  thence  by  the  said  45th  degree  of 
north  Lattitude. 

“ 3dly.  On  the  bounds  mentioned  In  the  first  proposition  for  the 
Jurisdiction  of  this  State  ; Yielding  up  to  the  united  States  the  right 
of  or  preemption  of  Soil  of  the  tract  of  Country  lying  west  of  a 
Meridian  line  drawn  from  the  45th  degree  of  north  Lattitude  thro  a 
point  twenty  Miles  due  west  of  the  most  westerly  bent  or  Inclination 
of  the  river  or  Strait  of  Niagara  as  far  south  & North  & West  of  the 
s’d  Meridian  line  as  this  State  extends. 

“ 4hly.  On  the  bounds  mentioned  In  the  Second  proposition  for 


*N.  Y.  Legis.  Papers  (MS.),  No.  126. 


184 


[Senate 


the  Jurisdiction  of  this  State  Yielding  up  to  the  united  States  the 
right  or  preemption  of  Soil  of  the  tract  of  Country  described  In  the 
third  proposition. 

“ 5hly.  On  a line  from  the  North  East  Corner  of  Pennsylvania  along 
the  north  bounds  thereof  to  the  northwest  Corner  thence  southerly 
alongthe  west  bounds  thereof  until  the  head  of  the  Cayahoga  bears  due 
west  thence  due  west  to  the  Head  of  the  Cayahoga  thence  down  the 
Cayahoga  to  the  mouth  thereof  thence  due  north  to  the  44th  degree  of 
North  Latitude,  thence  by  the  44th  degree  of  north  latitude  to  Lake 
Ontario  or  the  River  St.  Lawrence ; thence  by  the  North  banks  of 
the  said  Lake  and  of  the  said  River  to  the  45th  degree  of  North 
Lattitude  & thence  by  the  said  45th  degree  of  North  latitude. 

“6hly.  On  the  bounds  described  In  the  fifth  proposition  for  the 
Jurisdiction  of  this  state  Yielding  up  to  the  united  States  the  right 
or  preemption  of  Soil  of  the  tract  of  Country  described  in  the  third 
proposition  and  also  the  right  or  preemption  of  Soil  of  the  tract  of 
Country  laying  west  of  Pennsylvania  and  on  the  South  Side  of  Lake 
Erie. 

u Yon  are  at  liberty  to  agree  upon  any  other  line  or  lines 
which  You  may  Judge  from  Circumstances  to  be  Consistent  with 
Your  trust  and  equally  advantageous  for  the  State  with  either  of  the 
Propositions  above  mentioned  but  if  neither  of  the  said  propositions 
or  such  others  as  you  shall  state  shall  take  place  You  shall  In  no  ease 
restrict,  or  limit  the  Bounds  of  the  State  so  as  to  Exclude  or  relinquish 
Any  part  of  the  Territory  comprized  within  the  following  descrip- 
tion which  you  are  to  Consider-  and  Maintain  as  the  ultimatum  of 
this  State  both  In  respect  of  the  right  of  soil  or  Preemption  from 
the  Natives  and  of  Jurisdiction  subject  to  the  Proviso  hereinafter 
named  to  witt  — a line  from  the  North  East  Corner  of  Pennsylvania 
along  the  north  bounds  thereof  to  Its  northwest  Corner  continued 
due  west  untill  It  shall  be  Intersected  by  a meridian  line  to  be  drawn 
from  the  45th  degree  of  North  lattitude  thro  a point  twenty  miles 
due  west  from  the  most  westerly  bent  or  Inclination  of  the  River  or 
strait  of  Niagara,  thence  by  the  said  Meridian  line  to  the  45th  de- 
gree of  North  Lattitude,  and  thence  by  the  Said  45th  degree  of 
North  Latitude,  Provided  Nevertheless  that  If  the  Great  object 
of  the  Said  Act  cannot  otherwise  be  accomplished  you  Shall  be  at 
Liberty  to  cede  for  the  benefit  of  the  united  States  the  right  or  pre- 
mption  of  Soil  reserving  the  Jurisdiction,' or  even  both  the  right  or, 
Preemption  of  Soil  and  of  Jurisdiction  to  that  tract  of  land  part  of1 
the  Territory  described  In  this  Ultimatum  which  lies  east  of  the 
Meridian  Line  mentioned  in  this  Ultimatum  and  North  of  the  44th 
degree  of  North  Lattitude  and  of  the  Lake  Ontario  and  of  the  River 
St.  Lawrence.”* 

To  us  who  know  the  comparatively  small  and  insignificant  area  of 
territory  which  was  actually  covered  by  this  release,  the  prompt  ac- 
tion of  New  York,  concurred  in  afterward  by  Massachusetts,  who 


* N.  Y.  Legis.  Papers  (MS.),  No.  59G. 


v No.  71.] 


185 


had  a prior  claim  upon  the  land,  would  seem  really  to  have  been  in 
the  nature  of  “ buncombe,”  or  a shrewd  political  move  to  effect  a 
grand  purpose  with  a very  small  sacrifice,  as  Madison  asserted ; but 
when  we  consider  that  this  action  was  taken  in  the  hight  of  the 
Revolution,  with  the  tide  of  success  just  upon  the  turn  in  favor  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  probable  northern  limit  of  the  embryo 
republic  still  unknown,  the  case  assumes  a different  aspect. 

Governor  Tryon  in  his  Report  upon  the  Province  of  New  York 
in  1774,*  while  he  acknowledged  that  under  the  grant  to  the  Duke 
of  York  the  Delaware  River  formed  the  western  Boundary  of  the 
Province,  had  claimed  that  under  the  treaties  of  1701  with  the  Five 
Nations, f and  1726  with  the  Cayugas,  Onondagasand  Senecas, J the 
real  boundaries  of  the  Province  were  the  u Streights  of  Detroit  and 
of  Lake  Huron  ” on  the  west  and  the  Parallel  of  45  degrees  on  the 
north.  This  was  the  flimsy  title  to  which  Madison  referred. 

Governor  Tryon  based  his  description  of  the  Northern  Boundary 
of  the  Province,  north-west  of  the  Saint  Lawrence  and  Lake  On- 
tario, upon  the  Royal  Proclamation  of  7 October,  1763,  fixing  the 
southern  Boundary  of  the  Province  of  Quebec.  Parliament,  23 
June,  1774,  passed  what  is  known  as  the  “ Quebec  Bill,”  which  an- 
nexed to  that  Province  all  the  territory  ceded  by  the  treaty  of  Peace 
of  1763,  west  of  the  Niagara  River,  Lake  Erie  and  the  western 
boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  and  north-west  of  the  Ohio  River.  This 
bill  was  opposed  in  all  its  stages  by  Edmund  Burke,  and  was  de- 
nounced by  Lord  Chatham  as  u a most  cruel,  oppressive  and  odious 
measure.”  Burke  succeeded  in  having  a section  inserted  providing 
i ‘That  nothing  herein  contained  relative  to  the  Boundary  of  the 
Province  of  Quebec,  shall  in  any  Avise  affect  the  Boundaries  of  any 
other  Colony.”  This  bill  formed  one  of  the  grievances  of  the  Colo- 
nies, which  precipitated  the  Revolution. 

Early  in  1779  Congress  Avas  considering  the  ultimata  to  be  de- 
manded in  a negotiation  for  peace,  and  upon  19  March  adopted  the 
following  : u 1.  That  the  thirteen  United  States  are  bounded,  north, 
by  a line  to  be  drawn  from  the  north-west  angle  of  Nova  Scotia, 
along  the  high  lands  which  divide  those  rivers  which  empty  them- 
selves into  the  river  St.  LaAvrence  from  those  which  fall  into  the 
Atlantic  ocean  to  the  north-westernmost  head  of  Connecticut  river; 
thence  down  along  the  middle  of  that  river  to  the  forty-fifth  degree 
of  north  latitude  ; thence  due  west  in  the  latitude  forty-five  degrees 
north  from  the  equator,  to  the  north-westernmost  side  of  the  river 
St.  Lawrence,  or  Cadaraqui ; thence  strait  to  the  South  end  of  lake 
Nepissing ; and  thence  strait  to  the  source  of  the  river  Missis- 
sippi  ” * 

The  Commissioner  (Mr.  Adams)  appointed  to  negotiate  a treaty  of 
peace  Avas  required  in  his  instructions  to  conform  to  these  ultimata. 
Although  the  neAV  instructions  by  Congress,  15  June,  1781,  to  the 
•Commissioners  practically  repealed  the  others,  so  far  as  Boundaries 


. * N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  viii,  434-457. 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


f Idem,  iv,  908-9. 
24 


\ Idem,  v,  800-1. 


186 


[Senate 

were  concerned,  they  were  still  held  to  as  expressing  the  expecta- 
tions of  Congress.*  In  the  negotiations  at  Paris  in  1782,  the 
Boundaries  as  first  fixed  were  first  acceded  to  by  the  British  Com- 
mission, but  being  submitted  to  the  King  were  rejected. 

In  the  second  set  of  Articles  agreed  to  5 Nov.,  1782,  the  northern 
Boundary  was  fixed  : — 

“ and  along  the  said  highlands  to  the  northwestern- 

most  head  of  Connecticut  river,  thence  down  along  the  middle  of 
that  river  to  the  45th  degree  of  north  latitude,  following  the  said  lati- 
tude until  it  strikes  the  river  Mississippi.” 

The  third  set  which  was  finally  adopted  fixed  the  present  Boundary, 
where  W illiam  Penn  had  suggested  eighty  years  before. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  territory  so  readily  released  by  New 
York  and  Massachusetts  was  supposed  at  the  time  to  be  quite  as  ex- 
tensive as  that  held  by  Virginia,  and  the  actual  sacrifice  was  greater 
as  the  line  of  Cession  was  placed  farther  east  than  the  lines  agreed  to 
by  any  of  the  other  Provinces  as  they  afterward  successively  ceded 
their  western  lands.  The  description  of  the  New  York  line  of  ces- 
sion shows  that  the  “ 45th  degree  of  North  latitude”  was  understood 
to  be  the  northern  Boundary  of  New  York  west  of  the  Eiver  St. 
Lawrence.  This  idea  is  further  supported  by  the  instructions  to  her 
delegates  in  1780,  quoted  above,  when  they  were  authorized  to  cede 
territory  east  of  the  meridian  and  north  of  the  44th  degree,  etc. 

The  charter  claim  of  Massachusetts  covered  but  little  more  than 
one-fifth  of  the  area  of  the  western  lands  thus  considered  to  be  apper- 
taining to  New  York,  although  it  included  the  entire  area  of  the 
territory  as  actually  ceded. 

September  6,  1780,  “ Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report 
of  the  committee  to  whom  were  referred  the  instructions  of  the  gen- 
eral assembly  of  Maryland  to  their  delegates. in  Congress,  respecting 
the  articles  of  confederation,  and  the  declaration  therein  referred  to, 
the  act  of  the  legislature  of  New*- York  on  the  same  subject,  and  the 
remonstrance  of  the  general  assembl}"  of  Virginia ; which  report  was 
agreed  to,”  and  this  resolution  adopted, 

“ Resolved , That  copies  of  the  several  papers  referred  to  the  com- 
mittee be  transmitted,  with  a copy  of  the  report  to  the  legislatures 
of  the  several  states,  and  that  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  those 
states,  who  nave  claims  to  the  western  country,  to  pass  such  laws, 
and  give  their  Delegates  in  Congress  such  powers  as  may  effectually 
remove  the  only  obstacle  to  a final  ratification  of  the  articles  of  con- 
federation; and  that  the  legislature  of  Maryland  be  earnestly  requested 
to  authorize  their  delegates  in  Congress  to  subscribe  the  said  articles.” 
Copies  of  the  report  and  of  the  several  papers  therein  referred  to, 

* “ As  to  disputed  Boundaries  and  other  particulars,  we  refer  you  to  the  instruc- 
tions formerly  given  to  Mr.  Adams,  dated  14th  August,  1779,  and  18th  October,. 
1780,  from  'which  you  will  easily  perceive  the  desires  and  expectations  of  Con- 
gress; but  we  think  it  unsafe,  at  this  distance,  to  tie  you  up  by  absolute  and  per- 
emptory directions  upon  any  other  subject  than  the  two  essential  articles  above 
mentioned.” 


No.  71.] 


187 


were  sent  to  the  Governors  of  the  several  States  prefaced  by  a circu- 
lar from  the  President  of  Congress,  in  which  he  says,  “ 1 am  directed 
to  transmit  copies  of  this  report  and  the  several  papers  therein  men-' 
tioned  to  the  legislatures  of  the  several  states,  that  they  all  may  be 
informed  of  the  desires  and  endeavours  of  congress  on  so  important 
a subject,  and  those  particular  states  which  have  claims  to  the  western 
territory  and  the  state  of  Maryland,  may  adopt  the  measures  recom- 
mended by  congress  in  order  to  obtain  a final  ratification  of  the 
articles  of  confederation.” 

In  response  to  this  appeal  from  Congress  Virginia,  2 January,  1781, 
passed  the  following  resolution  “ For  accession  of  the  lands  on  the 
north  west  side  of  Ohio  to  the  United  States.” 

“ The  general  assembly  of  Virginia  being  well  satisfied  that  the 
happiness,  strength  and  safety  of  the  United  States,  depend,  under 
Providence,  upon  the  ratification  of  the  articles  for  a federal  union 
between  the  United  States,  heretofore  proposed  by  congress  for  the 
consideration  of  the  said  states,  and  preferring  the  good  of  their 
country  to  every  object  of  smaller  importance,  Do  Resolve , That  this 
commonwealth  will  yield  to  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  said  United  States,  all  right,  title,  and  claim  that 
the  said  commonwealth  hath  to  the  lands  northwest  of  the  river 
Ohio,  upon  the  following  conditions,  to  wit : That  the  territory  so 
ceded  shall  be  laid  out  and  formed  into  states  containing  a suitable 

extent  of  territory,  That  the  States  so  formed  shall 

be  distinct  republican  States,  and  be  admitted  members  of  the  federal 
union,  having  the  same  rights  of  sovereignty  freedom  and  independ- 
ence as  the  other  States 

“ That  all  the  lands  within  the  territory  so  ceded  to  the  United 
States,  and  not  reserved  for  or  appropriated  to  any  of  the  herein  be- 
fore mentioned  purposes,  or  disposed  of  in  bounties  to  the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  American  army,  shall  be  considered  as  a common 
fund  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  such  of  the  United  American  States, 
as  have  become  or  shall  become  members  of  the  confederation  or 
federal  alliance  of  the  said  states  (Virginia  inclusive)  according  to 
their  usual  respective  proportions  in  the  general  charge  and  expendi- 
ture, and  shall  be  faithfully  and  bona  fide  disposed  of  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  for  no  other  use  or  purpose  whatsoever 

“That  all  the  remaining  territory  of  Virginia  included  between  the 
Atlantic  ocean  and  the  southeast  side  of  the  river  Ohio,  and  the 
Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  and  North  Carolina  boundaries,  shall  be 
guaranteed  to  the  commonwealth  of  Virginia  by  the  said  United 
States. 

“That  the  above  cession  of  territory  by  Virginia  to  the  United 
States  shall  be  void  and  of  none  effect,  unless  all  the  states  in  the 
American  Union  shall  ratify  the  articles  of  confederation  heretofore 
transmitted  by  congress  for  the  consideration  of  the  said  states. 

“ Virginia  having  thus  for  the  general  good  proposed  to  cede  a 
great  extent  of  valuable  territory  to  the  continent,  it  is  expected  in 


188 


[Senate 


return  that  every  other  State  in  the  Union,  under  similar  circum- 
stances as  to  vacant  territory,  will  make  similar  cessions  of  the  same 
to  the  United  States  for  the  general  emolument.”* 

The  action  of  New  York  and  Virginia  so  far  obviated  the  objec- 
tions of  Maryland  that  her  Legislature  passed  “ An  Act  to  empower 
the  delegates  of  this  State  in  Congress  to  subscribe  and  ratify  the 

articles  of  confederation.”  

“And  that  the  said  articles  of  confederation  and  perpetual  union, 
so  as  aforesaid  subscribed,  shall  henceforth  be  ratified  and  become 
conclusive  as  to  this  state,  and  obligatory  thereon.  And  it  is  hereby 
declared,  that,  by  acceding  to  the  said  confederation,  this  state  doth 
not  relinquish,  or  intend  to  relinquish,  any  right  or  interest  she  hath, 
with  the  other  united  or  confederated  states,  to  the  back  country ; 
but  claims  the  same  as  fully  as  was  done  by  the  legislature  of  this 
state,  in  their  declaration,  which  stands  entered  on  the  journals  of 
Congress;  this  state  relying  on  the  justice  of  the  several  states  here- 
after, as  to  the  said  claim  made  by  this  state. 

“And  it  is  further  declared,  that  no  article  in  the  said  confederation, 
can  or  ought  to  bind  this  or  any  other  state,  to  guarantee  any  exclu- 
sive claim  of  any  particular  state,  to  the  soil  of  the  said  back  lands,  or 
any  such  claim  of  jurisdiction  over  the  said  lands  or  the  inhabitants 
thereof.  ” 

James  Duane,  one  or  the  New  York  delegates,  wrote  3 February 
to  the  presiding  officers  of  the  New  York  Legislature  : 

“ Amidst  our  many  and  great  Embarasments  we  have  the  satis- 
faction to  inform  you  that  Virginia  has  ceded  to  the  united  States 
all  her  Claims  to  the  westward  of  the  Ohio  ; and  we  are  preparing 
to  execute  our  powers  on  the  same  Subject.  Maryland  we  are  in- 
formed, though  not  officially,  has  acceded  to  the  Confederation : 
we  believe  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  Fact.  These  are  Events  of  the 
utmost  moment  to  our  Independence  and  future  Tranquility,  and 
they  are  more  pleasing  as  our  State  has  taken  the  Lead  in  the  meas- 
ures by  which  they  have  been  accomplished.” 

In  Congress,  1 March,  1781,  the  Delegates  from  New  York  signed 
the  following  declaration : 

“Whereas  it  is  stipulated  as  one  of  the  conditions  of  the  cession 
of  territory,  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  United  States  by  the  legis- 
lature of  the  state  of  Virginia,  that  the  United  States  should  guar- 
antee to  that  state  the  boundaries  reserved  by  her  legislature  for 
her  future  jurisdiction ; and  it  would  be  unjust  that  the  state  of 
New  York,  as  a member  of  the  federal  union,  should  be  compelled 
to  guarantee  the  territories  which  shall  be  reserved  by  other  states 
making  such  cessions,  when  her  own  boundaries,  as  they  are  to  be 
limited  and  restricted  by  the  act  or  instrument  of  cession  now  to  be 
executed,  shall  not  be  guaranteed  in  the  same  manner;  wherefore, 
the  said  delegates  for  the  state  of  New  York,  being  uriinstructed  on 
this  subject  by  their  constituents,  think  it  their  duty  to  declare,  and 

*Hening’s  (Va.)  Statutes  at  Large,  x,  564-6. 


No.  71.] 


189 


they  do  by  this  present  instrument  declare,  that  the  cession  of  terri- 
tory and  restriction  of  boundary  of  the  state  of  New  York,  now  to 
be  made  by  them  in  behalf  of  the  people  of  the  said  state,  shall  not 
be  absolute ; but  on  the  contrary  shall  be  subject  to  ratification  or 
disavowal  by  the  people  of  the  said  state,  represented  in  senate  and 
assembly,  at  their  pleasure ; unless  the  boundaries  reserved  for  the 
future  jurisdiction  of  the  said  state,  by  the  instrument  of  cession  now 
to  be  executed  by  us,  shall  be  guaranteed  by  the  United  States,  in  the 
same  manner  and  form  as  territorial  rights  of  the  other  states  shall 
be  guaranteed,  which  have  made  or  may  make  cessions  of  part  of 
their  claims  for  the  benefit  of  the  United  States  ; the  people  of  the 
state  of  New  York,  on  their  part,  submitting  that  any  part  of  their 
limits,  which  are  or  may  be  claimed  by  any  of  the  United  States,, 
shall  be  determined  and  adjusted  in  the  mode  prescribed  for  that 
purpose  by  the.  articles  of  confederation.” 

After  which,  in  the  same  presence,  they  executed  also  a Deed  of 
Cession,  by  which  they,  “for  and  in  behalf  of  the  said  state  of 
New  York,  limit  and  restrict  the  boundaries  of  the  said  state  in  the 
western  parts  thereof,  with  respect  to  the  jurisdiction,  as  well  as  the 
right  or  pre-emption  of  soil,  by  the  lines  and  in  the  form  following, 
that  is  to  say : a line  from  the  northeast  corner  of  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania,  along  the  north  bounds  thereof  to  its  north-west  cor- 
ner continued,  due  west  until  it  shall  be  intersected  by  a meridian 
line,  to  be  drawn  from  the  45th  degree  of  north  latitude,  through 
the  most  westerly  bent  or  inclination  of  lake  Ontario ; thence  by 
the  said  meridian  line  to  the  45th  degree  of  north  latitude;  and 
thence  by  the  said  45th  degree  of  north  latitude ; but  if  on  ex- 
periment, the  above  described  meridian  line  shall  not  compre- 
hend 20  miles  due  west  from  the  most  westerly  bent  or  inclination 
of  the  river  or  strait  of  Niagara,  then  we  do  by  these  presents,  in 
the  name  of  the  people,  and  for  and  on  behalf  of  the  state  of  New 
York,  and  by  virtue  of  the  authority  aforesaid,  limit  and  restrict 
the  boundaries  of  the  said  state  in  the  western  parts  thereof,  with  re- 
spect to  jurisdiction,  as  well  as  the  right  of  pre-emption  of  soil,  by 
the  lines  and  in  the  manner  following,  that  is  to  say  ; a line  from 
the  north-east  corner  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,”  [etc.,  as 

above],  “ And  we  do  by  these  presents  in  the  name 

of  the  people,  and  for  and  on  behalf  of  the  state  of  New  York,  and  by 
virtue  of  the  power  and  trust  committed  to  us  by  the  said  act  and 
commission,  cede,  transfer,  and  forever  relinquish  to,  and  for  the 
only  use  and  benefit  of  such  of  the  states  as  are  or  shall  become 
parties  to  the  articles  of  confederation,  all  the  right,  title,  interest, 
jurisdiction  and  claim,  of  the  said  state  of  New  York,  to  airlands 
and  territories  to  the  northward  and  westward  of  the  boundaries, 
to  which  the  said  state  is  in  manner  aforesaid  limited  and  restricted 
and  to  be  granted,  disposed  of,  and  appropriated  in  such  manner 
only,  as  the  Congress  of  the  said  United  or  Confederated  States  shall 
order  and  direct.” 


190 


[Senate 


Thereupon  two  of  the  Delegates  of  Maryland  did,  “ in  behalf  of 
the  said  state  of  Maryland,  sign  and  ratify  the  said  articles,  by  which 
act  the  confederation  of  the  United  States  of  America  was  completed, 
each  and  every  of  the  Thirteen  United  States,  from  New  Hampshire 
to  Georgia,  both  included,  having  adopted  and  confirmed,  and  by 
their  delegates  in  Congress  ratified  the  same.” 

The  New  York  Deed  of  Cession  was  referred  to  a committee 
which  already  had  under  consideration  the  Virginia  act  of  Cession, 
the  remonstrances  of  claimants  of  certain  of  Virginia’s  western  lands, 
and  a conditional  act  of  Cession  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  Con- 
necticut 12  October,  1780. 

The  Committee  1 May,  1782,  reported  the  following  resolution  ; 
“ That  Congress  do,  in  behalf  of  the  United  States  accept  the  cession 
made  by  the  state  of  New  York,  as  contained  in  the  instrument  of 
writing  executed  for  that  purpose  by  the  agents  of  New  York,  dated 
the  — day  of  — last  past,  and  now  among  the  files  of  Congress ; and 
that  the  president  do  take  the  proper  measures  to  have  the  same 
legally  authenticated,  and  registered  in  the  public  records  of  the  State 
of  New  York,”  and  stated  the  reasons  which  induced  them  to  recom- 
mend the  acceptance : 

“ 1st.  It  clearly  appeared  to  your  committee  that  the  lands  belong- 
ing to  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians,  and  their  tributaries,  have  been  in 
due  form  put  under  the  protection  of  the  crown  of  England  by  the 
said  Six  Nations,  as  appendant  to  the  late  government  of  New  York, 
so  far  as  respects  jurisdiction  only. 

“ 2d.  That  the  citizens  of  the  said  colony  of  New  York  have  borne 
the  burthen,  both  as  to  blood  and  treasure,  of  protecting  and  sup- 
porting the  said  Six  Nations  of  Indians,  and  their  tributaries,  for 
upwards  of  100  years  last  past,  as  the  dependants  and  allies  of  the 
said  government. 

“3d.  That  the  crown  of  England  has  always  considered  and  treated 
the  country  of  the  said  Six  Nations,  and  their  tributaries,  inhabiting 
as  far  as  the  45th  degree  of  north  latitude,  as  appendant  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  New  York. 

“ 4th.  That  the  neighboring  colonies  of  Massachusetts,  Connecti- 
cut, Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  have  also,  from  time  to 
time,  by  their  public  acts,  recognized  and  admitted  the  said  Six 
Nations,  and  their  tributaries,  to  be  appendant  to  the  government  of 
New  York. 

“ 5t.h.  That  by  Congress  accepting  this  cession,  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  whole  western  territory  belonging  to  the  Six  Nations  and  their 
tributaries,  will  be  vested  inYlie  United  States,  greatly  to  the  advan- 
tage of  the  Union.” 

The  committee  also  submitted  the  following,  with  their  reasons : 

“ Resolved , That  Congress  do  earnestly  recommend  to  the  states 
of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  that  they  do  without  delay  release 
to  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  all  claims  and  pretensions 
of  claim  to  the.  said  western  territory,  without  any  conditions  or  re- 
strictions whatever.” 


No.  71.] 


191 


“ Resolved,  That  Congress  cannot,  consistent  with  the  interests  of 
the  United  States,  the  duty  they  owe  to  their  constituents,  or  the 
rights  necessarily  vested  in  them  as  the  sovereign  power  of  the 
United  States,  accept  of  the  cession  proposed  to  be  made  by  the 
State  of  Virginia,  or  guarantee  the  tract  of  country  claimed  by 
them  in  their  act  of  cession  referred  to  your  committee 

“ Resolved , That  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia, as  they  value  the  peace,  welfare,  and  increase  of  the  United 
States,  that  they  re-consider  their  said  act  of  cession,  and  by  a proper 
act  for  that  purpose,  cede  to  the  United  States  all  claims  and  preten- 
sion of  claim  to  the  lands  and  country  beyond  a reasonable  western 
boundary,  consistent  with  their  former  acts  while  a colony  under  the 
power  of  Great  Britain,  and  agreeable  to  their  just  rights  of  soil  and 
jurisdiction  at  the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  and  that  free 
from  any  conditions  and  restrictions  whatever.” 

The  general  discussion  of  the  subject  was  prolonged  through  the 
Session,  until  29  October,  1782,  when  on  motion  of  the  Delegates 
from  Maryland  it  was,  mt  Resolved,  That  Congress  do,  in  behalf  of 
the  United  States,  accept  all  the  right,  title,  interest,  jurisdiction 
and  claim  of  the  state  of  New  York,  as  ceded  by  and  contained  in 
the  instrument  of  writing  executed  for  that  purpose  by  the  agents 
of  New  York,  dated  the  first  of  March,  1781,”  Massachusetts  and 
Virginia  voting  in  the  negative. 

The  next  day  a motion  “That  it  be  resolved,  that  nothing  in  the 
resolve  passed  yesterday,  be  understood  to  operate  towards  prevent- 
ing the  determination  of  any  dispute  that  has  arisen  or  may  arise 
concerning  territory,  between  the  state  of  New  York  and  any  other 
state  or  states  in  the  union,  by  the  9th  article  of  the  confederation, 
in  the  samejnanner  as  if  the  cession  had  not  been  made,”  was  re- 
jected. This  referred  to  the  contest  between  Massachusetts  and  New 
York  (see  Appendix  L). 

The  discussion  of  the  Virginia  act  of  Cession  still  continued.  The 
delegates  from  New'  Jersey  in  June,  1783,  presented  a remonstrance 
from  the  Legislature  of  that  State  in  which  66  They  do  therefore  ex- 
press their  dissatisfaction  with  the  cession  of  western  territory  made 
by  the  State  of  Virginia,  in  January,  1781,  as  being  far  short  of 
affording  that  justice  which  is  equally  due  to  the  United  States  at 
large,  and  request  that  Congress  will  not  accept  of  the  said  cession, 
but  that  they  will  press  upon  the  said  state  to  make  a more  liberal 
surrender  of  that  territory  of  which  they  claim  so  boundless  a pro- 
portion.” 

Upon  11  and  13  September,  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the 
cession  of  Virginia  was  again  considered,  and  after  being  amended 
by  adding  the  following  paragraph,  it  was  adopted. 

“ As  to  the  last  condition  [8.  That  all  the  remaining  territory -of 
Virginia,  included  between  the  Atlantic  ocean  and  the  southeast  side 
of  the  river  Ohio,  and  the  Maryland,  Pennsylvania  and  North-Caro- 
lina  boundaries,  should  be  guaranteed  to  the  common w'ealth  of  Vir- 


192 


[Senate 


ginia,  by  the  United  States]  your  committee  are  of  opinion,  that  con- 
gress cannot  agree  to  guarantee  to  the  commonwealth  of  Virginia,  the 
land  described  in  the  said  condition,  without  entering  into  a discussion 
of  the  right  of  the  state  of  Virginia  to  the  said  land ; and  that  by  the 
acts  of  Congress  it  appears  to  have  been  their  intention,  which  the 
committee  can  not  but  approve,  to  avoid  all  discussion  of  the  terri- 
torial rights  of  individual  states,  and  only  to  recommend  and  accept 
a cession  of  their  elaims  whatsoever  they  might  be,  to  vacant  terri- 
tory. Your  committee  conceive  this  condition  of  a guarantee,  to  be 
either  unnecessary  or  unreasonable;  inasmuch  as,  if  the  land  above- 
mentioned  is  really  the  property  of  the  state  of  Virginia,  it  is  suffi- 
ciently secured  by  the  confederation,  and  if  it  is  not  the  property  of 
that  state,  there  is  no  reason  or  consideration  for  such  guarantee. 

“ Your  committee  therefore  upon  the  whole  recommend,  that  if 
the  legislature  of  Virginia  make  a cession  conformable  to  this  report, 
Congress  accept  such  cession.” 

The  Virginia  Legislature  soon  afterward  passed  a new  act  of  Ces- 
sion in  accordance  with  the  terms  stipulated  by  Congress  “in  full 
confidence  that  congress  will,  in  justice  to  this  state  for  the  liberal 
cession  she  hath  made,  earnestly  press  upon  the  other  states  claiming 
large  tracts  of  waste  and  uncultivated  territory,  the  propriety  of 
making  cessions  equally  liberal  for  the  common  benefit  and  support 
of  the  union.5'*  And  on  the  1st  day  of  March,  1784,  the  Delegates 
from  Virginia  signed  the  Deed  of  Cession  and  Congress  ordered 
“ the  same  to  be  recorded  and  enrolled  among  the  acts  of  the  United 
States  in  Congress  assembled.” 

April  29,  Congress  resolved  to  again  present  the  subject  to  the 
States  which  had  not  yet  complied  with  the  recommendations  to  cede 
the  vacant  territory,  and  adjourned  upon  the  third  day  of  June  after 
receiving  a petition  from  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  setting 
forth  that  New  York  had  possession  of  a part  of  the  land  covered  by 
her  charter,  and  requesting  a court  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the 
Articles  of  Confederation. 

Upon  13  November  following,  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts 
passed  “ An  Act  empowering  the  Delegates  of  the  Commonwealth, 
in  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  to  relinquish  to  the 
LTnited  States  certain  Lands,  the  Property  of  this  Commonwealth. 

u Whereas  several  of  the  States  in  the  Union  have  at  present  no 
interest  in  the  great  and  extensive  tract  of  uncultivated  country, 
lying  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  United  States,  and  it  may  be  rea- 
sonable that  the  States  above  mentioned  should  be  interested  in  the 
aforesaid  country : 

“ Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives , in 
General  Court  assembled , and  by  the  authority  of  the  same , That 
the  delegates  of  this  Commonwealth,  in  the  United  States  in  Con- 
gress assembled,  or  any  threef  of  the  said  delegates,  be,  and  they 
hereby  are  authorized  and  empowered,  for  and  in  behalf  of  this 


Hening’s  Stat.,  xi,  326-8. 


f Afterward  amended  to  two. 


193 


No.  71.] 

1 

Commonwealth,  to  cede  or  relinquish,  by  authentick  conveyance  or 
conveyances,  to  the  United  States,  to  be  disposed  of  for  the  common 
benefit  of  the  same,  agreeable  to  a Resolve  of  Congress  of  October  the 
tenth,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty,  such  part  of  that  tract 
of  land  belonging  to  this  Commonwealth  which  lies  between  the 
rivers  Hudson  and  Mississippi , as  they  may  think  proper;  and  to 
make  the  said  cession  in  such  manner  and  on  such  conditions  as  shall 
appear  to  them  to  be  most  suitable.” 

April  18,  1785,  Congress  accepted  the  cession  and  the  following 
day  the  deed  was  executed  by  two  Delegates  in  which  they  “ assign, 
transfer,  quit  claim,  cede  and  convey  to  the  United  States  of  America, 
for  their  benefit,  Massachusetts  inclusive,  all  right,  title  and  estate  of 
and  in  as  well  the  soil  as  the  jurisdiction,  which  the  said  common- 
wealth hath  to  the  territory  or  tract  of  country  within  the  limits  of 
the  Massachusetts  charter,  situate  and  lying  west  of  the  following 
line : That  is  to  say,  a meridian  line  ” [as  in  the  Deed  of  Cession 
executed  by  the  New  York  Delegates,  1 March,  1781.] 

Thus  the  History  of  the  statute  establishment  of  the  “ Meridian 
Boundary”  between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  is  complete. 

The  consideration  of  the  subject  of  the  cession  of  the  vacant  west- 
ern lands  by  the  remaining  States  still  continued.  North  Carolina 
had  passed  an  act  ceding  all  her  territory  west  of  the  Allegany  Moun- 
tains, and  had  afterward  repealed  it,  as  u the  States  of  Massachusetts 
and  Connecticut , after  accepting  the  Cession  of  New  York  and  Vir- 
ginia, have  since  put  in  Claims  for  the  whole  or  a large  Part  of  that 
Territory,  and  all  the  above  expected  Measures  for  constituting  a 
substantial  common  Fund,  have  been  either  frustrated  or  delayed.” 
The  Connecticut  act  of  Cession  was  considered,  and  a resolution 
was  adopted  agreeing  to  accept  of  a cession  of  her  lands  west  of  a 
line  120  miles  west  from  the  western  line  of  Pennsylvania,  in  accord- 
ance with  which  a new  act  of  cession  was  passed  by  her  Legislature, 
which  was  accepted  14  September,  1786,  although  George  Washing- 
ton thought  the  compromise  allowing  her  to  retain  the  “ Western 
Reserve”  a disadvantageous  one  for  the  Union  (See  II  and  III,  Ap- 
pendix L). 

The  South  Carolina  Legislature  passed  an  act  of  cession  of  a por- 
tion of  her  Western  Lands,  8 March,  1787,  which  was  accepted  by 
Congress. 

Georgia  had  also  passed  an  act  which,  on  account  of  the  terms 
proposed,  was  not  accepted.  And  not  until  1802  were  the  final  arti- 
cles of  agreement  and  Cession  concluded  with  that  State. 

North  Carolina,  in  1789,  adopted  anew  law  authorizing  her  Dele- 
gates to  convey  to  the  United  States  her  lands  west  of  a certain 
Boundary,  which  was  accepted  by  Congress  in  1790. 

Connecticut  in  1800,  at  the  request  of  Congress  renounced  her 
right  and  title  to  all  lands  claimed  by  her  west  of  the  east  line  of 
New  York  except  the  “ Western  Reserve,”  the  jurisdictional  claim  to 
which  only  was  renounced. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71. J 


25 


194 


[Senate 


Meanwhile  the  Parallel  Boundary  between  New  York  and  Penn- 
sylvania had  been  established  upon  the  ground  by  joint  action  of  the 
two  States.  This  was  six  years  after  the  Deed  of  Cession  was  exe- 
cuted by  the  New  York  Delegates.  It  was  necessary  for  the  United 
States  to  know  the  Eastern  limit  of  the  ceded  lands.  She  had  con- 
tracted to  sell  the  Tract  to  Pennsylvania,  and  it  was  requisite  to 
know  its  area  and  its  boundaries.  It  was  estimated  that  the  line  of 
cession  would  intersect  the  new  State  Boundary  somewhere  near  the 
Conewango  River,  over  thirty  miles  East  of  the  actual  point  of  inter- 
section. Even  Andrew  Porter,  one  of  the  Commissioners  who  sur- 
veyed the  Boundary  in  1787,  had  this  idea  of  the  geography  of  the 
region.  An  explanation  of  this  erroneous  idea  is  found  in  the  fact 
that  the  initial  point  of  this  line,  the  western  end  of  Lake  Ontario, 
where  it  was  fixed  upon,  was  entirely  within  the  enemy’s  country, 
which  swarmed  with  hostile  savages. 

No  one,  from  any  of  the  maps  of  that  date,  or  from  any  idea 
formed  by  traversing  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  could  possibly 
make  any  definite  estimate  as  to  where  a meridian  line  from  this 
point  would  intersect  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Erie. 

On  the  sixth  day  of  June,  1788,  Congress  upon  the  report  of  a 
Committee  adopted  the  following  : 

“ Resolved , That  the  geographer  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he 
is  hereby  directed  to  ascertain  by  himself  or  by  a deputy  duly 
appointed  for  the  purpose,  the  boundary  line  between  the  United 
States  and  the  states  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts,  agreeably  to 
the  deeds  of  cession  of  the  said  states. 

“ That  the  said  geographer  inform  the-  executives  of  the  states  of 
New- York  and  Massachusetts  of  the  time  of  running  the  said  line,  in 
order  that  they  or  either  of  them  may,  if  they  think  proper,  have 
persons  attending  at  the  time. 

“ That  the  said  geographer  or  his  deputy,  having  run  the  meridian 
between  Lake  Erie  and  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  marked  and 
noted  down  in  his  field-book,  proper  landmarks  for  perpetuating  the 
same,  shall  proceed  to  make  a survey  of  the  land  lying  west  of  the 
said  line,  between  lake  Erie  and  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  so  as  to 
ascertain  the  quantity  thereof.”* 

Captain  Thomas  Hutchins  was  the  Geographer-General  of  the 
United  States  from  1781,  until  his  death  in  1759.  He  appointed  as 
his  deputy  to  run  the  line,  Andrew  Ellicottf  who  had  been  one  of  the 

* Penn.  Arcli.,  xi,  383. 

f Maj.  Andrew  Ellicott  was  born  in  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,  24  January, 
1754.  He  was  tlie  eldest  son  of  Joseph  Ellicott,  a man  noted  for  his  mechanical 
skill  and  mathematical  knowledge,  winch  were  inherited  by  his  children.  Andrew, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  had  been  quite  expert  in  the  manufacture  of  mathematical 
instruments.  In  1774  he  married  and  removed  with  his  father  to  Ellicott’s  Mills 
in  Maryland,  there  they  were  engaged  in  making  watches,  clocks  and  astronomi- 
cal instruments.  As  Major,  he  commanded  a battalion  of  Maryland  Militia  in  the 
Revolution.  In  1784  he  was  a Commissioner  on  the  part  of  Virginia  in  extending 
Mason  and  Dixon’s  line  and  running  the  Meridian  Boundary  between  that  State 
and  Pennsylvania,  Removing  his  family  to  Baltimore  in  1785,  he  was  appointed 


No.  71.] 


195 


Commissioners  in  running  the  western  line  of  Pennsylvania  in  1785, 
and  for  the  survey  of  the  Parallel  Boundary  between  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania  in  1786-7.  Mr.  Ellicott,  upon  accepting  the  appoint- 
ment, addressed  President  Mifflin  of  Pennsylvania,  19  December, 
1788,  as  follows : 

“ Sir,  Being  appointed  to  run  the  Line  between  the  western 
boundary  of  the  State  of  N.  York,  and  the  late  purchase  made  by 
this  State  (of  Congress)  of  a Tract  of  Country  lying  on  the  South  side 
of  Lake  Erie,  I shal  just  mention  some  difficulties  which  will  proba- 
bly attend  the  execution  of  this  business, — and  first,  because  the 
Point  which  limits  the  State  of  N.  York  to  the  Westward,  agreeably 
to  the  cession  made  by  that  State,  and  the  State  of  Massachusetts  to 
Congress  in  the  year  [1781],  lies  within  the  British  Settlements  on 
the  West  end  of  Lake  Ontario,  it  will  therefore  be  necessary  to  ob- 
tain leave  from  the  Commandant  at  Niagara,  or  the  Governor  of 
Canada  to  go  within  the  British  lines  to  commence  the  business.  As 
tliis  will  be  a matter  of  science  only,  and  cannot  possibly  interfere 
with  either  their  Jurisdiction  or  Property,  we  may  reasonably  expect 
that  a proper  representation  made  by  Authority  will  be  attended  with 
success.  The  second  difficulty  will  be  the  Indians,  but  as  they  are 
particularly  attached  to,  and  influenced  by  Cols.  Butler  and  Brandt, 
I would  beg  leave  to  suggest  the  Idea  of  obtaining  their  interest  by 
some  means  or  other.”* 

Yice-President  Loss  of  the  Executive  Council  23  January,  1789, 
called  the  attention  of  the  Delegates  in  Congress  to  the  matter  thus  : 

“Gentlemen,  Andrew  Ellicott  Esquire  who  is  appointed  by  the 
Geographer  General  of  the  United  States  to  run  the  line  between  the 
Western  boundary  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  the  late  purchase 
made  by  this  State  of  Congress  of  a Tract  of  Land  lying  on  the  south 
of  Lake  Erie,  has  applied  to  the  Executive  Council  of  this  State, 
stating  some  difficulties  which  he  apprehends  may  probably  attend 
the  execution  of  that  Business. 

Commissioner  with  Rittenhouse  and  Porter,  by  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  to 
locate  the  remainder  of  the  Western  Boundary  of  that  State,  and  in  1786-7,  was  a 
Commissioner  on  the  Northern  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania.  Major  Ellicott  rep- 
resented Baltimore  in  the  Legislature.  In  1789  he  moved  to  Philadelphia,  and 
in  that  year  he  was  appointed  by  President  Washington  to  run  the  Cession  Line, 
now  the  Meridian  Boundary  of  New  York,  and  survey  the  Erie  Triangle.  On 
the  death  of  Captain  Thomas  Hutchins  he  was  appointed  Geographer  of  the  United 
States.  After  completing  the  survey  of  the  Erie  Triangle  he  was  engaged  upon 
the  survey  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  in  laying  out  the  City  of  Washing- 
ton. Assisted  by  his  brother  Benjamin,  and  Augustus  Porter,  he  ran  the  New 
Pre-emption  Line  north  from  Milestone  82  in  New  York  in  1794.  May  4,  1796,  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Washington,  Commissioner  to  fix  the  Boundary  of 
the  United  States  and  the  Spanish  Possessions.  He  was  absent  upon  this  expedi- 
tion four  years,  and  published  a journal  of  his  experiences  and  observations  upon 
it  in  1803.  Appointed  Surveyor-General  of  the  United  States  in  1801,  he  was  at 
the  same  time  until  1808,  Secretary  of  t lie  Land  Office  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
commissioned  to  run  the  North  Boundary  of  Georgia  in  1811-2.  And  was 
appointed  Professor  of  Mathematics  at  the  West  Point  Academy,  1 September, 
1813,  and  continued  as  such  until  his  death,  28  August,  1820.  He  had  four  sons 
and  six  daughters. 

* Penn.  Arch.,  xi,  429. 


196  [Senate 

“ Council  have  thought  it  expedient  previous  to  their  taking  any 
measures  to  expedite  the  completion  of  this  work,  to  write  to  the 
delegates  to  know  what  steps  or  if  any  have  been  taken  by  Congress 
to  obtain  leave  from  the  Governor  of  Canada  or  the  Commandant 
at for  the  Geographer  General  or  any  person  under  his  appoint- 

ment to  go  within  the  British  settlements  or  lines  to  make  the  ne- 
cessary observations  to  enable  him  to  begin  and  carry  into  execution 
the  laying  off  the  Tract  of  Country  aforesaid.”* * * § 

The  delegates  replied  in  a note  dated  February  2,  as  follows: 

“Sir,  We  have  been  honoured  with  a communication  from  the 
Executive  Council  of  the  23d  Ultimo. 

“ The  same  Ideas  were  suggested  by  the  Geographer  last  summer, 
but  no  measures  were  adopted  by  Congress  to  facilitate  the  comple- 
tion of  that  survey.”  f 

Tench  Coxe  wrote  1 February  to  President  Mifflin  upon  the  same 
subject,  “ As  there  is  not  yet  a Congress,  and  there  is  not  a certainty 
of  seven  states,  I would  submit  the  propriety  of  applying  to  the 
Secy,  for  foreign  affairs  to  write  to  the  Governor  of  Canada,  for 
permission  to  enter  the  British  country  to  make  the  necessary  astro- 
nomical observations,  & for  information  whether  Mr.  Ellicott  can 
have  the  necessary  supplies  of  provisions,  boats,  &c.,  from  the  Brit- 
ish posts.  Mr.  Gorman  [Gorham]  of  Massachusetts,  who  is  among 
the  purchasers  of  the  cession  of  property  by  New  York,  to  that 
State,  is  of  opinion  that  difficulties  might  arise  if  our  Geographers 
name  (Capt.  Hutchins  and  Jonson)  should  appear,  as  he  is  consid- 
ered by  them  in  the  light  of  an  officer  leaving  their  service  in  time 
of  wai*4  . . 1 find  among  the  papers  of  Congress  an  ap- 

plication from  Capt.  Hutchins  to  them  in  June  last,  to  take  up  this 
Business,  which  would  have  been  done  in  a few  days,  but  when  our 
delegates  were  prepared,  there  ceased  to  be  a quorum  of  States.  The 
delay  of  this  matter  till  the  next  Government  meets,  will  throw  it 
into  the  great  Mass  of  objects  that  will  go  before  them.  I therefore 
think  it  very  proper  that  we  apply  to  Mr.  Jay,  if  council  approve 
the  step  without  the  least  delay.”  § 

A question  of  finance  was  next  to  be  settled.  Ellicott  presented 
a petition  to  Congress  asking  that  money  should  be  “ advanced  to 
defray  his  expenses,  and  to  enable  him  to  execute  an  act  of  the  late 
Congress  for  determining  the  western  Boundary  of  the  State  of 
New  York.”  The  matter  was  referred  to  a Committee.  The  Com- 
mittee reported  and  the  House  proceeded  to  consider  the  report, 
which  was  adopted  after  being  amended  to  read  “ That  the  survey 
directed  by  Congress  in  their  act  of  June  6th,  1788,  be  made  and 
returned  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  without  delay ; and  that 

* Penn.  Arch.,  xi,  537.  f Idem,  xi,  543. 

\ Capt.  H.  was  in  London  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution,  and  in  1779 

was  suspected  of  holding  correspondence  with  Franklin,  then  in  France,  for  which 
he  was  imprisoned  six  weeks.  See  Allen’s  American  Biog.  Diet.,  article  Thomas 
Hutchins. 

§ Penn.  Arch.,  xi,  543. 


No.  71.] 


197 


the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  appoint  a fit 
person  to  complete  the  same,  who  shall  be  allowed  five  dollars  per 
day,  whilst  actually  employed  in  the  said  service,  with  the  expenses 
necessarily  attending  the  execution  thereof.”  This  was  concurred 
in  by  the  Senate. 

Secretary  John  Jay  announced  to  Gov.  Clinton  of  New  York 
this  action  of  Congress,  4 September,  1789. 

“Sir. — In  pursuance  of  the  orders  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  I have  the  Honor  of  transmitting  to  your  Excellency  here- 
with enclosed,  a Copy  of  an  Act  of  Congress  of  the  6th  June, 
1788,  and  of  a concurrent  Resolution  of  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives  (passed  by  the  latter  on  the  10th,  and  concurred  in 
by  the  former  on  the  19th  August  last.)  In  pursuance  of  a Request 
contained  in  this  Resolution,  the  President  has  been  pleased  to  ap- 
point Andrew  Ellicott  to  compleat  the  Survey  therein  mentioned, 
who  will  begin  that  work  on  the  10th  Day  of  October  next ; and  I 
am  directed  to  give  your  Excellency  this  information,  in  Order  that 
the  State  of  New  York  may  if  they  think  proper,  have  Persons  at- 
tending at  the  time.”  * 

Mr.  Ellicott  addressed  the  Executive  Council  11  September  thus: 
“In  executing  the  Survey  to  be  made  on  Lake  Erie,  I shall  stand  in 
need  of  two  Surveying  instruments,  and  a small  Quadrant,  the  prop- 
erty of  this  Commonwealth  : If  they  should  not  be  otherwise  en- 
gaged, I shall  esteem  it  a particular  favour  to  have  the  loan  of  them, 
on  the  above  occasion.”  And  the  Council  “ Resolved,  That  the  re- 
quest of  Mr.  Ellicott  be  complied  with,  and  that  David  Rittenhouse, 
Esquire,  be  directed  to  furnish  him  with  the  said  instruments,  taking 
a receipt  to  return  them  when  required.” 

In  another  letter  dated  22  September,  Mr.  Ellicott  says  to  Presi- 
dent Mifflin,  “As  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  by  its  purchase  of  the 
United  States  of  a Tract  of  Country  lying  on  the  South  side  of  Lake 
Erie,  has  become  interested  in  the  Execution  of  the  survey,  so  far 
as  it  relates  to  the  Quantity  of  Land,  I would  therefore  just  suggest 
the  Idea  of  some  person  being  authorized  to  attend  on  behalf  of  the 
State. — I shall  leave  this  City  about  the  last  of  this  week,  and  pro- 
ceed to  Niagara  in  order  to  execute  my  commission  on  behalf  of  the 
United  States.”  f And  again  to  the  Executive  Council  3 June  1790, 
“In  order  to  satisfy  the  Indians,  and  insure  safety  to  myself,  and 
party,  in  the  execution  of  the  resolve  of  Congress  of  June  6th,  1788, 
I think  it  will  be  necessary  to  have  a copy  of  the  Deed  given  by  the 
Senecas,  to  Messrs.  Butler,  and  Gibson,  Commissioners  on  behalf  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  for  certain  land  lying  on  the  South  side 
of  Lake  Erie,  and  west  of  the  Conawango  River,  and  the  Carrying 
place  between  Lake  Chaughtaughque,;j:  and  Lake  Erie.” 

This  deed  was  that  executed  by  Cornplanter  and  twenty -three 
other  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  conveying  to  Pennsylvania  the  land 
ceded  by  New  York  and  Massachusetts  to  the  United  States. 

* We  find  no  record  of  such  an  appointment.  Clinton  Papers  (MSS.),  6044. 

■f-Penn.  Arch.,  xi,  615. 

j “Ja-da-qua,”  Place  of  easy  death.  Ja-dax-que  on  some  old  maps. 


198 


[Senate 


The  history  of  the  purchase  of  the  “ Erie  Triangle,”  as  the  ter- 
ritory ceded  by  New  York  to  the  United  States  is  popularly  desig- 
nated, is  further  discussed  in  Appendix  M. 

Original  Surveys. 

A s for  the  actual  business  of  the  survey  we  have  hardly  any  record. 
In  fact  no  record  at  all  has  been  found,  not  even  a diary  or  a report, 
of  Andrew  Ellicott’s  work  upon  this  Boundary,  or  upon  the  Survey 
of  the  “ Erie  Triangle.” 

The  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Regents,  the  late  Dr.  D. 
J.  Pratt,  in  1866,  endeavored  by  extensive  correspondence  with  the 
Departments  in  Washington,  and  with  relatives  and  descendants  of 
Mr.  Ellicott,  to  find  the  missing  documents,  but  without  success. 
The  correspondence  may  be  found  in  Regents’  Report  on  Boundaries, 
i,  316-329.*  Aside  from  an  official  letter  to  President  Washington, 
we  have  very  little  that  is  authentic  relating  to  the  Survey. 

He  was  accompanied  by  his  brothers,  Joseph  and  Benjamin,  as 
his  Assistants,  and  by  Gen.  Israel  Chapin,  and  Frederick  Saxton, 
who  went  with  him  on  behalf  of  Phelps  and  Gorham,  who  had  pur- 
chased the  Massachusetts  Pre-emption  in  Western  New  York.  The 
initial  point  of  the  survey  was  the  western  “ bent”  of  Lake  Ontario, 
a point  nearly  forty  miles  within  the  British  Dominions,  and  it  was 
necessary  that  the  Surveyors  should  proceed  to  this  place,  for  the 
starting  point  of  their  Survey.  Ellicott,  as  we  have  seen,  had  applied 
to  the  proper  authorities  to  obtain  permission  to  invade  the  British 
Territory  for  this  purpose.  The  party  arrived  at  Fort  Niagara  be- 
fore the  required  permission  had  reached  them.  His  letter  to  Presi- 
dent Washington  written  from  Philadelphia  15  Jan.,  1790,  tells  the 
whole  story : 

“ Sir,  I arrived  in  this  City  the  day  before  yesterday,  after  a long 
and  tedious  journey  from  Fort  Erie,  and  have  the  satisfaction  to  in- 
form your  Excellency  that  so  much  of  the  Survey  on  which  I was 
employed,  that  fell  within  the  Territory  of  his  Britanick  Majesty  is 
compleated.  I find  the  Geography  of  the  Country  about  the  Lakes 
very  erroneous,  too  much  so  to  be  even  a tolerable  guide.  The  south 
side  of  Lake  Erie  is  laid  down  half  a degree  too  far  to  the  South,  in 
the  American  Atlas  published  in  1776  ; and  said  to  be  corrected  by 
Majr  Holland,  De  Brahm,  and  others.  TJie  same  Lake  is  by  Hutch- 
ins, and  McMurry,  placed  20  miles  too  far  north  ; similar  errors  attend 

all  that  country  thro’  which  I passed A corrected 

Chart  of  the  west  end  of  Lake  Ontario,  the  Strait  of  Niagara,  and 
part  of  Lake  Erie  comprehending  the  whole  British  settlement  of 
Nassau  shall  be  handed  to  vour  Excellency  as  soon  as  I come  to  New- 
York. 

* Judge  William  Peacock,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  Major  Ellicott,  was 
of  the  opinion  that  the  report  was  made  to  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Washington, 
and  was  probably  lost  or  destroyed  when  the  British  burned  the  public  buildings 
in  1814. 


No.  71.] 


199 


- “ From  certain  data , which  cannot  be  materially  defective,  the  Sale 
of  Lands  made  by  the  United  States  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania 
will  not  neat  less  than  thirteen  thousand  pounds  specie  to  the  Union, 
rating  Certificates  at  f to  the  pound. 

“ On  my  arrival  at  the  Garrison  of  Niagara  on  the  219t  day  of 
October  last,  I was  introduced  by  the  Officer  of  the  day,  in  company 
with  Gen.  Chapen  of  Massachusetts,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Ellicottof  Bal- 
timore, to  the  Commandant  Lieuh  Col.  Harriss.  After  the  introduction 
I produced  my  Commission,  which  the  Col.  looked  over;  and  then 
addressed  himself  to  me  in  the  following  words. — ‘ Pray  Sir  what 
request  have  you  to  make  from  this  paper?’  (meaning  the  Commis- 
sion.) To  which  I replied,  ‘ In  order  to  execute  the  duties  of  my 
appointment  it  will  be  necessary  to  go  into  the  Territory  of  his  Bri- 
tanick  Majesty ; but  as  you  may  not  be  authorized  to  grant  such 
permission,  an  express  has  been  sent  on  by  our  Secretary  of  foreign 
affairs  to  his  Excellency  Lord  Dorchester  Governor  of  Canada  to  ob- 
tain this  privilege  ; and  if  the  express  has  not  yet  arrived,  my  present 
request  is  only  that  myself  and  party  may  have  the  liberty  of  staying 
in  the  Country,  with  such  privileges  as  are  allowed  to  other  gentle- 
men from  the  United  States,  and  wait  his  arrival.’  To  which  the 
Col.  replied  ‘ You  cannot  have  permission  to  stay  in  this  Country. 
You  must  leave  it  Sir.’  I then  informed  him  that  our  going  away  so 
precipitately  must  be  attended  with  inconveniency  to  ourselves,  and 
the  present  expence  of  the  United  States,  sacrificed  to  no  purpose; 
and  as  I was  confident  that  the  express  would  arrive  with  the  first 
Yessel,  and  from  a desire  to  have  the  business  executed  with  all  pos- 
sible dispatch,  I should  not  be  very  punctilious  about  the  privileges  ; 
but  would  willingly  be  confined  to  one  single  Acre  of  Ground,  or 
any  other  space,  and  under  any  restrictions  which  he  himself  should 
prescribe  : to  which  he  replied,  ‘ Your  request  cannot  be  granted  Sir, 
you  must  leave  this  Country  and  that  with  expedition.’  I then  in- 
formed him,  that  myself,  and  companions  were  much  fatigued 
with  a long  and  painful  journey,  and  our  Horses  broken  down  with 
hard  duty  and  the  want  of  food ; and  that  our  return  home 
might  be  marked  with  some  degree  of  certainty,  I requested  the 
privilege  of  continuing  some  few  days  in  the  country  to  refresh  our- 
selves and  recruit  our  horses.  To  which  he  returned  4 1 cannot  be 
answerable  for  your  situation.  You  are  not  to  continue  in  this 
country,  and  if  you  stay  anywhere  in  it,  I shall  hear  of  you,  and 
will  take  measures  accordingly.’  I then  observed  to  him  that  I had 
some  Gentlemen  in  my  party,  who  were  very  desirous  to  view  the 
falls  of  Niagara,  and  as  this  was  the  only  probable  opportunity 
which  would  ever  fall  in  their  way,  I requested  that  their  curiosity 
might  be  gratified  ; particularly  as  the  falls  were  not  near  any  of 
their  posts.  To  which  he  answered,  4 Your  Gentlemen  cannot  be 
gratified,  they  cannot  see  the  falls,  too  many  people  have  seen  the 
falls  already.’  I then  began  to  make  some  observations  on  the  com- 
mon usage  of  all  civilized  Nations  with  regard  to  matters  of  Science, 


200 


[Senate 


and  natural  curiosities;  but  was  soon  interrupted  by  the  Col.  who 
desired  that  I 6 would  not  multiply  words  on  that  subject,’  that  he 
4 was  decisive  and  we  must  depart.’  He  then  addressed  himself  to 
Col.  Butler  of  the  Bangers,  (who  was  present),  as  follows.  Col.  it  is 
our  Lunchion  time,  will  you  go  and  take  a cut  with  us.’  Then 
turning  to  me  he  said  4 You  may  retire  to  the  Tavern  in  the  Bottom, 
and  purchase  such  refreshment  as  you  may  want ; in  the  meantime 
(pointing  to  my  Commission  which  lay  on  the  Table)  ‘I  will  take  a 
copy  of  that  paper,  after  which  the  Adjutant  shall  return  you  the 
original.’  We  were  then  attended  by  the  Officer  of  the  day  to  the 
Tavern. — After  some  consideration  I thought  it  best  to  make  one 
other  request  to  the  Commandant  which  was,  that  myself,  and  party 
might  have  permission  to  go  to  the  Indian  Settlement  on  Buffalo 
Creek,  which  is  30  miles  from  the  Garrison,  and  in  the  Territory  of 
the  United  States,  and  there  wait  the  arrival  of  the  express.  This 
request  was  handed  to  Col.  Harrissby  my  companion  Gen.  Chapen; 
but  shared  the  same  fate  with  the  others. — Some  time  after  dark  the 
Adjutant  waited  upon  us  with  the  enclosed  pass,  without  which  we 
could  neither  get  out  of  the  Garrison  nor  pass  the  Indian  Settle- 
ments in  our  own  country. — From  the  tenor  of  the  pass  it  appears 
that  the  Military  jurisdiction  of  the  British  Garrison  at  Niagara  is 
extended  to  the  Jenesseo  Biver  ; but  this  in  my  opinion  is  more  fully 
confirmed  by  their  general  conduct  in  that  quarter.  After  leaving 
the  garrison,  we  had  five  miles  to  ride  to  join  our  party,  on  our  ar- 
rival, we  gave  immediate  orders  to  have  our  Baggage  prepared,  and 
every  measure  taken  for  an  early  movement  the  next  morning;  but 
before  we  had  time  to  leave  the  ground,  a Lieut.  Clarke  waited  upon 
us  and  renewed  the  orders  of  the  Col.,  and  added  4 that  the  Com- 
mandant desired  that  our  departure  might  be  attended  with  expedi- 
tion.’— We  left  the  ground  about  9 o’clock  in  the  morning  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Jenesseo  Biver  a distance  of  near  100  miles,  where  we 
received  Lord  Dorchester’s  permission  to  execute  any  part  of  our 
business,  which  might  fall  in  the  Territory  of  his  Britanick  Majesty 
by  an  express  sent  by  Cap*.  Guion,  who  had  in  the  meantime  arrived 
at  Niagara  from  Quebec. — Although  our  Horses  were  unable  to  re- 
turn, I was  nevertheless  determined  to  go  on  with  the  business. — We 
then  employed  Canoes  to  carry  our  Instruments  and  Baggage  down 
the  Jenesseo  Biver  to  the  carrying-place,  where  we  procured  a 
Boat  and  returned  up  Lake  Ontario  to  N iagara. — On  our  return,  we 
were  treated  with  politeness,  and  attention.  We  entered  immedi- 
ately upon  the  execution  of  our  business,  which  was  attended  with 
uncommon  difficulty  and  hardship. — No  Horses  were  to  be  had  in 
that  Country  at  any  price,  we  were  therefore  under  the  necessity  of 
employing  a greater  number  of  men  than  would  otherwise  have 
been  wanted  which  has  added  considerably  to  the  expence.” 

The  gallant  Briton  who  so  valiantly  defended  the  Canadas  from 
this  irruption  of  scientific  marauders  graciously  furnished  them  with 
the  following  pass  when  he  so  summarily  sent  them  away  from  the 
Fort. 


No.  71.] 


201 


“ By  John  Adolphus  Harris  Esquire,  Lieut  Colonel  of  the  1st 
Battallion,  00th  Begiment,  Commanding  Niagara  &c  &c 

“ Permit  the  Bearers  Andrew  Ellicott,  Joseph  Ellicott,  Benjamin 
Ellicott,  Jonathan  Browns,  Isaac  Bornet,  John  Sullivan,  Israel 
Chapen  and  Frederick  Seaton  [Saxton]  to  pass  from  hence  without 
delay  and  by  the  nearest  Route  to  the  Genecies. 

“ To  all  Concerned 

Given  under  my  hand  & Seal  at  Niagara  this  Twenty -first 
day  of  October,  1789. — 

“ Jn°  Adolp5.  Harris  (Seal) 

Lieut : Col0.  Com"0  Upper  Rosts  T 

From  such  meager  information  as  is  available,  it  is  probable  that 
Mr.  Ellicott  after  getting  the  longitude  of  the  starting  point,  made 
a survey  east  to  the  Niagara  Biver,  traversed  that  river  and  the 
south  shore  of  Lake  Erie  until  he  found  himself,  by  computation 
from  Lis  measurements,  in  the  meridian  of  the  starting  point. 

Gen.  Charles  B.  Stuart,  in  his  biographical  sketch  of  Ellicott, 
says : 

“ It  was  while  making  the  traverse  of  the  Canadian  side  of  the 
Niagara  Biver  in  1790,  that  Andrew,  Joseph  and  Benjamin  Ellicott 
first  saw  the  Falls  of  Niagara;  and  that  Joseph  and  Benjamin,  as 
the  Assistants  of  Andrew  Ellicott,  made  the  first  actual  measure- 
ment of  the  entire  length  of  Niagara  Biver,  the  respective  falls  of 
the  river  from  Lake  Erie  to  Lake  Ontario,  the  height  of  the  Great 
Falls,  and  the  descent  of  the  Bapids.  Andrew  Ellicott,  in  making 
his  report  of  the  survey  of  the  boundary  line,  makes  mention  of 
these  measurements  of  the  river,  which  have  ever  since  been  the 
acknowledged  authorities  in  all  books  giving  an  account  of  Niagara 
Falls.”. 

Having  verified  his  position  upon  the  South  shore  of  Lake  Erie, 
he  run  the  line  south  in  the  Meridian. 

Of  the  character  of  the  instruments  used  we  can  only  infer  from 
his  letter  to  the  Executive  Council,  11  September,  1789.  Except, 
in  his  letter  to  Bobert  Patterson,  2 April,  1795,  in  describing  the 
methods  used  in  laying  out  the  District  of  Columbia,  he  says, 

These  lines  were  traced  with  a transit  and  equal 

altitude  instrument  which  I constructed  and  executed  in  1789,  and 
used  in  running  the  Western  Boundary  of  New  York.”  * This 
instrument  he  used  in  running  the  principal  avenues  in  the  city  of 
Washington;  and  in  fixing  the  Boundary  between  the  United 
States  and  the  Spanish  Possessions  (Florida)  in  1796-9.f 

How  much  time  was  required  to  run  the  Meridian  Boundary  is 
unknown.  In  his  letter  to  President  Washington,  quoted  above, 
writing  from  Philadelphia,  he  had  completed  so  much  of  the  Survey 
as  “ fell  within  the  Territory  of  his  Britanick  Majesty.”  He  had 

* Araer.  Phil.  Soc.  Trans.  (1°  Series),  iv,  49. 

f Ellicott’s  Journal  (App.),  p.  45. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  26  . 


202 


[Senate 


still  tlie  traverse  of  the  East  and  South  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  make 
before  he  should  reach  his  starting  point.  By  a private  letter  writ- 
ten from  Presq’  Isle  (Erie),  11  October,  1790,  he  states  that  he 
“yesterday  completed  the  survey  of  the  territory  annexed  to  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  after  much  difficulty  and  hardship.  The 
land  contained  in  this  survey  is  generally  good,  and  from  its  peculiar 
situation  an  important  object  to  the  State. 

“ The  Indians  did  not  appear  to  be  well  disposed  towards  the 
execution  of  our  business,  but  after  a treaty,  and  receiving  some 
small  presents,  accompanied  with  rum  and  tobacco,  permitted  us  to 
go  on.” 

The  expense  of  the  survey,  including  the  preliminary  work  in 
Canada,  the  survey  along  the  Niagara  Biver  and  Lake  Erie,  run- 
ning the  Meridian  and  surveying  and  estimating  the  “ Erie  Trian- 
gle,” is  shown  in  the  following  abstract  from  Iieceipts  and  Expendi- 
tures of  the  United  States,  1791  : 

“ Payments  made  for  executing  the  surveys  directed  by  Congress 
in  their  act  of  June  6,  1788,  and  a concurrent  resolution  passed 
the  26<A  day  of  August , 17&9. 

Dols.  Cts. 

1790.  March  30.  To  Andrew  Ellicott,  surveyor  — Warrant  No.  267. . 1234.78 

Aug.  18.  To  Josiah  Howell,  junior,  agent  for  Andrew  Elli- 
cott, surveyor — Warrant  No.  616 1200. 

Dec.  2.  To  Andrew  Ellicott,  surveyor — Warrant  No.  760..  200. 

1791.  Jan.  8.  To  Andrew  Ellicott,  surveyor — Warrant  No.  820.  . 662. 

Feb.  17.  To  Caleb  Strong,  agent  for  Israel  Cliapin,  for  sun- 
dry expenses  incurred  by  the  said  I.  Chapin  un- 
der Andrew  Ellicott  — Warrant  No.  903. 34.32 

April  23.  To  Andrew  Ellicott,  surveyor  — Warrant  No.  1032.  718.75 

$4049.85” 


Original  Monuments. 

A map  of  the  line  is  among  the  papers  of  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany, probably  a copy  of  the  original  official  map.  Upon  this  the 
south  end  of  the  Boundary  is  about  two-tenths  of  a mile  east  of 
Milestone  225  of  the  Parallel  Boundary.*  The  entire  length  of  the 
Line  was  18.66  miles  (985-5  feet).  At  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie  and  at 
the  intersection  with  the  Parallel  Boundary  stones  were  placed;  also 
at  the  3,  4,  6,  8,  10,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17  and  IS  mile-points.  The  re- 
maining mile- points  were  marked  by  wooden  posts,  five  or  six  inches 
square. 

In  1796  Deputy  Surveyor  Samuel  Nicholson  subdivided  the  “ Erie 
Triangle”  into  Warrants,  with  the  exception  of  a small  portion  in 
the  south-east  corner,  which  was  held  by  the  Donation  W arrantees. 
No  notes  of  his  surveys  are  known  to  be  in  existence,  except  such  as 
may  be  contained  in  his  meager  returns  to  the  Land  Office.  His  map 

* Deputy  Surveyor  Cochran  of  Erie  County,  Penn.,  in  liis  survey  of  the  inter- 
ference of  the  Donation  Lands  made  it  fifty  perches  (825  feet)  East  of  the  ‘ 225  M. 
tree/ 


No.  71.] 


203 


of  the  “ Triangle”  is  in  the  Land  Office  at  Harrisburg.  Upon  this, 
Milestone  225  is  marked  as  the  south-east  coruer  of  the  tract.  As 
he  did  not  survey  the  south-east  corner  warrant,  lie  probably  had  no 
positive  knowledge  of  the  actual  corner.  A more  recent  survey  of  the 
South  East  Warrant  mentions  a “ Stone  S.  W.  Corner  N.  Y.  State.” 
None  of  the  monuments  upon  the  meridian,  except  that  at  the  Lake- 
shore,  are  mentioned  upon  his  map,  or  in  his  returns  of  Surveys. 

This  line  was  re-surveyed  for  the  Holland  Land  Company  under 
the  direction  of  Joseph  Ellicott,  by  James  Smedley,  in  July,  1798. 
In  his  notes  he  describes  the  “ Corner”  as  marked  by  a Sugar  Maple 
Post  in  a heap  of  stones.  Deputy  Surveyor  Cochran  makes  no  men- 
tion of  a Monument  at  this  point.  Smedley  ran  north  upon  the  Line, 
setting  mile  and  half-mile  posts  along  it,  witnessing  each  with  two 
“ bounded  trees,”  until  he  reached  the  Lake  shore,  where  he  set  a post 
39  links  north  of  the  monument  set  by  Ellicott  in  1790.  He  makes 
no  note  of  any  intermediate  milestones  or  posts  set  by  Ellicott.* 
Seth  Pease,  another  Holland  Land  Company  Surveyor,  started  from 
this  post  28  July,  1798,  and' made  a traverse  of  the  Lake  shore,  He 
speaks  of  the  monument  as  broken  in  pieces.  A part  of  the  base 
which  remained  in  the  ground  until  within  ten  years  must  at  that 
time  have  contained  parts  of  the  inscriptions,  which  are  given  by 
Pease,  “August  23d  1790,  Latitude  42°- 16-  13"  Variation  0°  25' 
West.”f  The  inscriptions  upon  this  monument  as  preserved  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Archives,  (xi)  seem  to  have  been  as  follows: 

[On  the  east  side  :]  [On  tlie  west  side  :] 


OF  PENNSYLVANIA 
AUGUST  23d 
1790.” 

Judge  Peacock  in  his  survey  of  the  McMahon  Tract  in  the  North 
West  Corner  of  Ilipley  in  October,  1801,  describes  it  thus  : “ Stone 

standing  on  the  Bank  of  Lake  Erie  in  the  Pennsylvania  line  it  is 
Broken  into  Pieces,  which  I Cannot  Describe  the  Letters.” 

The  total  length  of  the  line  as  measured  by  James  Smedley,  was 
18  miles  50  chains  91  links  (98400  feet),  to  a point  39  links  north 
of  the  Initial  Monument. 

The  two  intermediate  Township  Corners  on  this  line  were  fixed 
in  July  1798,  by  Wareham  Shepard,  who  laid  out  the  Townships  in 
Bange  15  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase. 

*See  XIX,  Appendix  H.  Also  Small  H.  L.  Co.,  Field  Book  No.  37,  Secretary’s 
Office,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

\ See  III,  Appendix  H. 


“ MERIDIAN 
OF  THE  WEST  END  OF 
LAKE  ONTARIO 
STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 
18  MILES  AND 
52.5  CHAINS  FROM 
THE  NORTH  BOUNDARY 


“ TERRITORY 
ANNEXED  TO  THE  STATE 
OF  PENNSYLVANIA, 
NORTH 


LATITUDE  42°  16'  13" 
VARIATION  25 
WEST.” 


204 


[Senate 


The  Surveyors  who  subdivided  the  Townships  adjoining  this  line 
into  Sections,  make  no  mention  of  any  of  the  original  milestones  or 
posts.  They  made  the  total  length  of  the  line  98313  feet. 

Hon.  O.  I).  Hinckley  in  his  reconnaissance  of  the  outline  of  Chau- 
tauqua county  under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  at 
the  request  of  the  Board  of  Regents,  in  1870,  retraced  this  line  from 
south  as  far  as  Milestone  3,  and  identified  quite  a number  of  the 
witness  trees  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Surveys.  lie  found 
Milestone  17  lying  upon  the  surface  of  tiie  ground ; also  a fragment 
of  Milestone  7.  Milestones  3 and  6,  were  in  place,  the  latter  broken 
in  several  pieces.  He  also  f ound'what  was  probably  the  remnant  of 
the  Ninth  mile-post  in  an  old  sod-grown  mound  of  small  cobble 
stones,*  upon  the  flats  near  a tributary  of  the  north  branch  of  French 
Creek.  He  also  found  the  remnant  of  the  square  post  set  at  five 
miles  which  had  been  known  for  many  years.f  At  the  twelve  mile- 
point  he  found  an  unmarked  stone  standing  crosswise  of  the  line 
“ Tradition  says,  set  by  Ellicott.”  The  map  shows  that  a post  was 
set  at  this  point,  not  a stone.  Nothing  more  was  found  except  the 
stake  surrounded  by  stones  buried  in  the  road  at  the  “ Corner.”  He 
did  not  carry  his  reconnaissance  north  of  Milestone  3.  Hr.  Peters 
in  1865,  when  he  observed  for  the  Latitude  and  Longitude  of  the 
Initial  Monument,  referred  to  its  condition,  as  quoted  in  the  opening 
paragraphs  of  this  Report. 

Judge  William  Peacock,  who  for  many  years,  early  in  the  Century, 
had  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  Holland  Land  Company  in  Chautau- 
qua County,  asserted  that  this  monument  was  broken  down  by  the 
Indians,  who  in  that  region  were  unfriendly  to  the  Yankees;  and 
that  other  Boundary  Monuments  were  destroyed  by  them. 

The  Reconnaissance  of  1878. 

Upon  reaching  the  ‘‘Corner ’’with  the  reconnaissance  of  the 
Parallel  Boundary,  11  October,  1878,  the  party  were  transferred  to 
this  Line,  and  the  work  was  pushed  rapidly  northward  upon  an 
initial  random  transit  line  started  parallel  with  the  meridian  of  the 
“Corner,”  as  deduced  from  angles  measured  from  the  Meridian  of 
“Station  Clark,”  5,480  feet  East.  The  Lake  Shore  was  reached 
20  October,  and  the  party  was  disbanded  for  the  season. 

A number  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  points  identified  by 
Mr.  Hinckley  were  found.  Milestone  17  was  found  as  he  had  found 
it,  lying  upon  the  ground  with  no  evidence  to  show  where  it  had 
stood.  The  unmarked  stone  at  the  12-mile  point  was  also  found 

* Mr.  Hinckley  in  iiis  notes  says,  “ At '48.75  struck  cherry  stake  in  stone  heap 
(Ellicott’s  Survey).  Eoot  of  Post  now  in  the  ground  (top  rotted  off  above  ground) 
but  found  in  good  condition.  The  stake  lias  been  known  to  be  there  for  fifty  years. 
Ellicott’s  Map  shows  a cherry  stake  at  this  point.  No  doubt  of  its  origin.” 

f Mr.  Hinckley  says,  “ At  47.50  found  remnant  of  Chest.  Post  on  line  (Ellicott’s 
5 mile  Post)  bottom  rotted  but  top  sound  and  standing  where  first  set.  lias  been 
known  45  or  50  years.  Stood  there  when  the  land  was  cleared.  No  doubt  of  its 
origin.” 


No.  71.] 


205 


and  inspected.  The  present  owner  of  the  land  adiacent  states  that 
the  stone  was  set  to  replace  the  original  post,  which  had  become 
badly  decayed,  and  which  had  been  known  and  recognized  as  authen- 
tic from  the  time  the  land  was  originally  cleared.  The  heap  of 
cobble  stones,  matted  with  sod,  with  a hole  in  the  center,  at  the  9- 
mile  point  was  also  found  and  appeared,  from  its  position,  to  be  the 
original  mound  piled  about  the  post  of  1790.  Nothing  was  dis- 
covered of  the  fragments  of  Milestone  7.  The  remains  of  Mile- 
stone 6 were  found  in  place.  At  the  5-mile  point  the  upper  part  of 
a squared  chestnut  post,  six  inches  square,  weather-beaten,  with  the 
lower  part  rotted  away,  was  found  standing  where  the  evidences 
showed  a stake  had  been  set  and  mouldered  away.  This  was  said 
by  the  gentlemen  who  owned  the  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  line, 
and  who  cleared  it  up  over  40  or  50  years  ago,  to  stand  where  it 
stood  then,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  this  is  part  of  the  original 
post.  This  remnant  was  sent  to  the  State  Library  at  Albany.  A 
stone  was  found  near  the  4-mile  point  which  is  probably  the  re- 
mains of  the  original  milestone,  although  it  had  no  marks  upon  it 
by  which  it  might  be  identified.  Milestone  3 was  found  in  place, 
although  evidently  disturbed  by  frost.  It  was  a stone  over  seven 
feet  long  and  about  8 inches  square,  very  carefully  marked,  standing 
upright,  but  by  comparison  with  the  illustration  in  Dr.  Peters’  re- 
port of  i860,  it  must  have  been  raised  at  least  a foot  by  frost  or 
some  other  influence  since  he  examined  it.  Nothing  was  found  of 
the  original  initial  monument  upon  the  bluff  at  the  Lake,  except 
the  hole  where  it  had  until  very  recently  stood,  on  the  edge  of  the 
bluff,  the  monment  having  dropped  out,  leaving  the  sod,  and  the 
stones  that  were  embedded  beside  it,  in  pla^e.  The  monument  itself 
was  either  buried  in  the  debris  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff,  or  had  been 
carried  away. 

The  length  of  the  line  as  measured  upon  the  reconnaissance  was 
9S,448  feet.  This  is  the  actual  chained  distance  without  correction 
for  error  in  length  of  chain,  which  would  add  about  75  feet.* 

New  Initial  Monument  of  1869. 

Upon  the  report  and  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Regents,  the 
Legislature,  11  April,  1866,  passed  the  following  Joint  Resolution  : 

ik  Resolved , That  in  conformity  with  the  recommendation  of  the 
Regents  of  the  University  in  their  report  on  the  longitude  of  the 
western  boundary  of  the  State,  submitted  to  the  Legislature  at  the 
present  session,  that  the  said  Regents  be  authorized  to  make  such 
arrangements  as  may  be  found  desirable,  with  the  authority  of  Penn- 
sylvania, for  renewing  and  replacing  the  monument  near  Lake  Erie, 
on  the  said  western  boundary  line.” 

“ The  preliminary  correspondence  with  the  Governor  and  the  Leg- 

* From  a careful  remeasurement  of  about  If  miles  of  the  north  end  of  the 
Meridian  in  1885,  the  aggregate  error  in  chaining  in  1878  was  estimated  at  85 
feet. 


206 


[Senate 


islature  of  Pennsylvania  on  this  subject,  will  be  found  in  the  Penn. 
Legislative  Documents  for  1867,  vol.  i,  pp.  945-948,  and  the  Penn. 
Senate  Journal  for  March  28,  1867,  812,  813.  An  appropria- 

tion of  ‘ two  hundred  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as  maybe  necessary,’ 
to  the  surveyor  general  for  erecting  a more  durable  monument, 
further  inland  was  made  by  the  Laws  of  Penn,  for  1867,  No.  1, 
Section  75.  On  conferring  with  the  Surveyor  General  of  Penn.,  it 
was  agreed  that  the  Regents  should  take  measures  to  procure  the 
monument,  and  a contract  was  executed  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1869, 
with  Messrs.  Williams,  Spelman  & Co.,  of  Albany,  to  furnish  a 
block  of  Quincy  granite,  eight  feet  long,  two  feet  wide  and  eight 
inches  thick,  properly  dressed  and  inscribed,  and  to  erect  it  at  the 
point  on  the  Western  boundary  line  to  be  designated,  for  the  sum  of 
four  hundred  dollars ; which  contract  was  duly  executed.” 

Chancellor  Prnyn  received  the  following  notification  from  the 
Surveyor-General’s  office  in  Harrisburg,  dated  13  September,  1869 : 
“Sir. — 1 am  instructed  by  Genl.  J.  M.  Campbell,  Surveyor  Gen- 
eral of  Penna.  to  say  that  if  lie  is  unable  to  meet  you  at  State  Line. 
Station  on  the  15th  inst.,  the  bearer  William  Evans,  Esquire,  a Sur- 
veyor of  this  Office  will  represent  him  in  relation  to  the  erection  of 
the  monument  on  the  State  Line  near  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie.  Mr. 
Evans  takes  with  him  the  amount  of  money  appropriated  by  the 
75th  Section  of  the  Act  of  11th  April,  1867  of  Penna.  towards  defray- 
ing the  expences  of  procuring  & erecting  the  monument  referred  to, 
(two  hundred  dollars)  which  he  is  instructed  to  pay  over  to  you  or 
other  authorized  party  representing  the  State  of  Ne w York.  I have 
the  honor  to  be,  Sir,  Yery  respectfully,  Your  obedient  servant 

“ ROBT.  A.  McCOY.” 

Upon  14  January,  1870,  the  Chancellor,  from  the  select  Committee 
on  Boundaries,  “stated  that  the  initial  monument  on  the  shore  of 
Lake  Erie  was  replaced  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  by  the  desig- 
nated authorities  of  this  State  and  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  on 
the  15th  September  last,  and  submitted  a copy  of  the  memorandum 
of  proceedings  had  at  that  time,  and  which  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

“ c State  of  New  York  : — State  of  Pennsylvania, 

“ 1 State  Line,  September  15£/i,  1869. 

“ ‘ The  undersigned,  duly  authorized  for  that  purpose  by  their 
respective  States,  do  hereby  certify,  that  on  the  day  above  named, 
they  attended  at  the  monument  placed  on  the  margin  of  lake  Erie, 
which  marks  the  boundary  line  between  the  said  States,  and  witnessed 
the  erection  of  a new  monument  in  place  of  the  original  monument 
now  dilapidated,  at  a point  distant  four  hundred  and  forty  feet  due 
south  from  the  original  monument ; which  new  monument  is  of 
Quincy  granite,  about  two  feet  wide  and  about  eight  inches  in  thick- 
ness, and  has  on  the  east  and  west  faces  thereof  a copy  of  the  inscrip- 
tion on  the  corresponding  faces  of  the  original  monument  as  stated 


No.  71.] 


207 


in  the  archives  of  the  two  States,  and  on  the  north  and  south  faces 
thereof  the  following  inscriptions  respectively  : 


“ [North  face] 

‘ 1869. 

LATITUDE  OF  THIS  STONE 

42°  15'  57"  9 

LONGITUDE 

79°  45  54"  4 

VARIATION 

2°  35'  W.’  • 


“ [South  face] 

‘ 1869. 

Erected  by  the  States  of  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania,  440 
feet  south  of  a monument 
now  dilapidated,  on  which 
were  the  inscriptions  on  the 
east  and  west  faces  of  this 
monument.’ 


“‘That  the  said  new  monument  was  placed  in  all  respects  to  our 
satisfaction,  and  at  the  joint  expense  of  the  said  two  States,  as  au- 
thorized by  their  respective  Legislatures. 

“‘In  witness  whereof  we  have  set  our  names  to  duplicate  copies 
hereof  at  the  State  line  aforesaid,  on  the  day  and  year  first  above 
mentioned. 

“ 1 On  the  part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania : 

WILLIAM  EYANS,  For  J.  M.  CAMPBELL, 

Survey  or -General  of  Pennsylvania 

“ ‘ On  the  part  of  the  State  of  New  York : 

JOHN  Y.  L.  PRUYN,  Chancellor  of  University. 
GEO.  R.  PERKINS,  Com.  of  the  Regents. 

S.  B.  WOOLWORTH,  Secretary  of  the  Regents. 
GEO.  W.  PATTERSON.’  ”* 


This  monument  was  found  in  1878,  about  one  foot  out  of  line  to 
the  east,  and  leaning  slightly  in  that  direction.  In  1884  it  was  found 
to  lean  about  six  inches  from  the  perpeudicular.  The  hight  of  this 
monument  above  the  surface  of  the  ground  is  four  feet. 

Final  Adjustment:  Setting  New  Monuments. 

Upon  the  completion  of  the  work  upon  the  Parallel  Boundary 
in  September,  1884,  a large  terminal  monument  was  set  in  the 
Meridian  Boundary  100  feet  North  of  the  “Corner.”  This  monu- 
ment is  similar  to  that  set  in  April  of  that  year  upon  the  right  bank 
of  the  Delaware  River  near  the  Initial  Point. 

The  party  was  then  transferred  to  the  north  end  of  the  Meridian 
Boundary.  The  first  three  miles  were  carefully  re-run  and  the 
monuments  set.  No  attempt  was  made  to  rectify  the  position  of 
the  large  monument  set  in  1869,  at  this  time. 

A successful  observation  was  made  for  a meridian,  and  this  Sec- 
tion of  the  Boundary  was  found  to  vary  but  slightly  from  it. 

Upon  the  26th  day  of  September  the  field-work  upon  the  Bound- 
ary was  suspended  and  the  party  disbanded. 


Regents’  Report  1871,  pp.  x,  xi. 


208 


[Senate 


Owing  to  legislative  delays  in  the  matter  of  appropriations,  the 
field-work  in  1885  was  not  resumed  until  late  in  June,  when  the 
party  assembled  at  the  north  end  of  the  Meridian.  The  first  work 
done  was  to  obtain  a careful  re-measurement  of  the  distance  from  the 
approximate  site  of  Dr.  Peters’  astronomical  station  of  1865  to  the  ' 
site  of  the  original  Initial  Monument  upon  the  Lake  shore.  (See 
note,  end  of  Appendix  D.) 

The  large  granite  monument  set  in  1869  was  at  the  same  time 
carefully  re-adjusted  to  the  Line  and  re-set. 

The  field-work  suspended  in  1884  was  taken  up  at  the  7-mile- 
point.  An  observation  for  a meridian,  was- made  upon  “ Polaris” 
at  its  Eastern  elongation  before  one  o’clock  upon  the  morning 
of  30  June. 

The  method  adopted  in  this  observation,  was  the  same  used  upon 
the  Boundary  north  of  Milestone  3 in  September  previous.  The 
transit,  in  the  present  instance,  was  stationed  over  a nail  in  a stake 
about  1160  feet  south  of  the  7-mile-stake,  and  by  two  observations 
of  the  Star  at  its  elongatior,  one  with  telescope  direct,  and  the  other 
with  telescope  reversed,  a point  in  the  same  vertical  plane  was  fixed 
upon  a stake  1492  feet  north  of  the  instrument.  This  observation 
was  repeated  about  a month  afterward  with  satisfactory  results.  In 
the  forenoon  of  30  June,  an  offset,  calculated  from  the  azimuth  of 
the  Star,  was  measured  west  from  the  stake,  and  from  the  meridian 
thus  fixed  a random  transit  line  was  started  in  each  direction  across 
the  wide  valley.  It  was  continued  north  to  a point  north  of  the  5- 
mile-stake,  and  transferred  by  parallel  offsets  to  the  west  side  of  the 
line,  and  was  run  north  to  Milestone  3.  In  the  other  direction  it 
was  extended  to  the  summit  of  the  ridge  south  of  the  8-mile-point, 
and  after  ;being  transferred  to  the  West  side  of  the  Boundary,  was 
continued ‘south  to  the  “ Corner.”  Frequent  offsets  wTere  measured 
from  these  transit  lines  to  the  stakes  of  the  reconnaissance,  and  to 
points  in  the  Boundary. 

Milestones  3 and  6,  the  stake  at  the  9-mile-point,  and  the  stone  at 
the  12-mile-point. were  found  to  be  in  a line,  which  varied  but  little 
(0.23  f.  per  mile,  west  of  south)  from  a meridian.  It  was  apparent 
from  this  survey  that  the  north  thirteen  or  fourteen  miles  of  this 
portion  of  the  Boundary  were  originally  very  carefully  run.  Between 
Milestones  13  and  14  is  the  original  limit  of  the  heavy  hard-wood 
timber,  into  which  it  is  quite  evident  that  the  original  line  must  have 
been  continued  by  the  use  of  a compass,  instead  of  a transit  inde- 
pendent of  the  needle.  None  of  the  original  milestones  were  to  be 
found  (except  17,  which  had  been  displaced),  but  a number  of  points 
fixed  and  witnessed  within  eight  years  after  the  original  survey,  by 
James  Smedley,  surveyor  for  the  Holland  Land  Company,  show  that 
the  south  end  of  the  Meridian  wavered  considerably ; and  the  “ Cor- 
ner” was  found  about  thirty  feet  west  of  the  line  of  3-6-9-12, 
produced. 

Upon  a careful  study  of  the  line  after  the  transit  line  had  been  run 
throughout,  it  was  found  impracticable  to  adjust  the  line  upon  a 


ii)  j , I .?■  J-lH  : ' v ■' 


Sketch  No.  15. 


Adjustment  of  south  end  of 

MERIDIAN  BOUNDARY. 


No.  71.] 


209 


meridian  or  upon  a single  strait  line.  The  line  3-12  was  therefore 
extended  to  the  14-mile-point,  and  a strait  line  drawn  thence  to  the 
“ Corner,”  making  a deflection  to  the  west,  of  between  4'  and  5 .* 
The  unknown  mile-points  were  fixed  at  equal  distances,  between 
Milestones  6 and  18,  the  latter  being  placed  mile  north  from  the 
“ Corner.”  This  is  the  distance  given  upon  the  original  map.  This 
adjustment  of  the  distances  brought  the  12-mile-point  almost  exactly 
at  the  stone  marking  that  point. 

Placing  the  Monuments  upon  the  lines  thus  fixed,  was  at  once 
commenced,  and  before  1 August,  they  were  all,  thirty-six  in  number, 
set.  The  9,  10,  14,  15,  and  16-mile-points  were  found  unsuitable 
sites  for  monuments,  three  of  them  falling  in  beds  of  brooks,  and 
these  milestones  wTere  therefore  set  a few  feet,  in  line,  in  either  direc- 
tion, the  changes  being  noted  in  the  .Record  (see  Appendix  B).  These 
milestones  being  in  places  somewhat  unsuitable  for  convenience  of 
reference,  and  safety  from  possible  disturbance  from  the  elements, 
it  was  thought  advisable  to  set  intermediate  Monuments  at  several  of 
the  Holland  Land  Company’s  mile  and  half-mile  Points  south  of 
Milestone  14. 

The  number  of  new  Monuments  set  upon  the  Meridian  Boundary, 
including  the  Monument  of  1869,  is  as  follows  : 


Milestones 18 

Highway  Monuments 21 

Lake  Shore  Monument  (small) . 1 

Initial  Monument  (1869) 1 

Large  Terminal  Monument  (1884) 1 

Railroad  Monuments 2 

Other  Intermediate  Monuments 7 


51 


Four  of  the  Milestones  upon  the  Meridian  are  highway  monuments. 

The  entire  length  of  the  Meridian  Boundary  is  known  to  have 
been  measured  by  direct  chaining,  four  times  : First,  in  the  original 

survey  of  1790  ; twice  by  the  Surveyors  of  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany; and  upon  the  reconnaissance  of  1878.  The  resulting  distances 
of  these  monuments,  together  with  the  length  of  the  line  deduced 
from  various  Latitude  observations,  are  given  in  the  following  table  : 


Feet. 

Andrew  Ellicott,  1790(18.66  miles) 98,525 

James  Smedley  (H.  L.  Co.)  1798,  (less  89  links) 98,374 

Section  surveys,  H.  L.  Co.,  1800  do  98  ,287 

Reconnaissance  1878  + chain  correction  ...  98,533 

Astronomical  (Edwin  Smith,  U.  S.  C.  & G.  S.,  Lat.  of  “ Corner’’  1879) — 

(Dr.  Peters,  Lat.  of  Initial  Monument) 97,311 

do  (Smith  1879) — (Dr.  Peters,  corrected  by  re-measurement 

from  his  station  in  1885) 96,696 

do  (Smith  1879) — (U.  S.  Lake  Survey  Lat.,  New  Initial  Monu- 
ment + 440  feet) 97,969 

These  distances  give  the  extreme  range  of  error 1 ,837 


* Sketch  No.  15  exhibits  on  an  exaggerated  scale  the  adjusted  Boundary  south  of 
14,  as  it  relates  to  old  stakes  and  fences. 

[Sen.  Hoc.  No.  71.]  27 


APPENDICES  TO  SURVEYOR’S  FINAL  REPORT. 


A.  Laws  Relating  to  Re- survey  of  the  Boundary. 

AA.  Instructions  to  Messrs.  Gere  and  Clarke. 

B.  Schedule  of  Monuments,  with  description  of  Locations. 

C.  Table  of  Angular  Deflections. 

D.  Astronomical  Stations  ; and  Results  of  Observations. 

E.  County  and  Town  Corners. 

F.  Names  of  Commissioners  ; and  Persons  Connected  with  the 

Survey,  1877-1885. 

G.  George  Palmer’s  Papers  and  Surveys : 

I.  Commission  as  Deputy  Surveyor. 

II.  Survey  of  the  Delaware  River  up  to  the  Initial  Point. 

III.  “ Journal  up  Delaware”  in  1784,  and  notes  of  Sur- 
vey from  the  Delaware  to  the  Susquehanna. 

IY.  Drake  and  Delong’s  “ Journal  up  Susquehanna  and 
across  to  Delaware,”  June,  1784. 

Y.  Letter  from  Surveyor-General  Lukens. 

YI.  Extracts  from  Field-notes  of  Warrant  Surveys. 

H.  Holland  Land  Company’s  Surveys : 

I.  Description  of  the  Marks  upon  Posts  and  Witness 
trees. 

II.  Extracts  from  Augustus  Porter’s  Field  Book  No.  2 
(Survey  of  the  South  end  of  Morris  Reserve). 

III.  Extract  from  Seth  Pease’s  Traverse  of  the  Shore  of 
Lake  Erie. 

IY-IX.  Record  of  Surveys  of  South  Line  of  Ranges  1 to  6. 

X.  Record  of  Surveys  of  South  end  of  “ Willink  Strip.” 
XI-XYIII.  Record  of  Surveys  of  South  Line  of  Ranges  7 to  14. 
XIX.  Record  of  surveys  of  South  and  West  lines  of  Range 
15. 

J.  Re-surveys  of  the  Keating  Lands  in  Pennsylvania. 

K.  Representation  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  on  Ancient 

Maps. 

L.  Disputes  with  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut. 

I.  The  Massachusetts  Claim  against  New  York. 

II.  The  Connecticut  Claim  against  Pennsylvania. 

III.  The  Connecticut  Gore  in  .New  York. 

M.  Erie  Triangle. 

N.  Maps  of  the  Boundary  Line,  1885. 


212 


[Senate 


APPENDIX  A. 


Laws  Relating  to  tiie  Re-surveys  of  the  Boundary  Line  Be- 
tween New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 

NEW  YORK. 

In  Assembly  ) 

Albany,  April  11,  1866.  j 

Resolved  (If  the  Senate  concur),  That  in  conformity  with  the 
recommendation  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  in  their  report 
on  the  longitude  of  the  western  boundary  of  the  State,  submitted 
to  the  Legislature  at  the  present  session,  that  the  said  Regents  be 
authorized  to  make  such  arrangements  as  may  be  found  desirable, 
with  the  authority  of  Pennsylvania,  for  renewing  and  replacing  the 
monument  near  Lake  Erie,  on  the  said  western  boundary  line. 

By  order  of  the  Assembly, 

J.  B.  Cushman,  Clerk . 

In  Senate,  April  16,  1866. 

Passed  without  amendment. 

By  order  of  the  Senate, 

Jas.  Terwilliger,  Clerk. 

In  Senate,  April  19,  1867. 

Resolved , That  in  view  of  the  communication  of  the  Regents  of 
the  University  to  the  Legislature,  dated  April  15,  1867,  the  said  Re- 
gents are  hereby  authorized  to  cause  an  examination  to  be  instituted 
as  to  the  condition  and  true  location  of  the  monuments  which  mark 
the  several  boundaries  of  the  State,  and  to  ascertain  whether  any  and 
what  action  may  be  needed  to  preserve  or  renew  them,  and  also  to 
procure  and  put  in  form  such  historical  information  in  regard  to  the 
said  boundaries  as  they  may  deem  to  be  of  interest,  at  an  expense  not 
to  exceed  three  thousand  dollars,  and  to  report  their  proceedings 
under  this  resolution  to  the  Legislature. 

Senate  Journal,  90th  Session,  1867,  page  1030. 

Laws  of  1875,  Chapter  424. 

AX  ACT  in  regard  to  the  boundary  monuments  of  the  State. 

Passed  May  26,  1875 ; three -fifths  being  present. 

'The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York , represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly , do  enact  as  follovjs : 

Section  1.  The  Regents  of  the  University  are  hereby  authorized 
and  directed  to  resume  the  work  of  “examination  as  to  the  true  lo- 


No.  71.] 


213 


cation  of  the  monuments  which  mark  the  several  boundaries  of  the 
State,”  as  authorized  by  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  April  nine- 
teenth, eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-seven,  and  in  connection  with 
the  authorities  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  respectively,  to  re- 
place any  monuments  which  have  become  dilapidated  or  been  re- 
moved, on  the  boundary  lines  of  those  States. 

§ 2.  The  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as 
may  be  necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated  for  expenses  of  renewing 
and  replacing  monuments,  and  for  contingent  expenses. 

§ 3.  The  Regents  shall  report  to  the  Legislature  on  the  progress  of 
this  work,  with  an  account  of  all  expenditures. 

§ 4.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

Laws  of  1877,  Chapter  275. 

AN  ACT  making  appropriations  for  certain  expenses  of  government 
and  supplying  deficiencies  in  former  appropriations. 

Passed  May  16,  1877. 


The  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  appropriated  by  chapter  four 
hundred  and  twenty -four  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy-five  for  the  expenses  of  renewing  and  replacing  state  bound- 
ary monuments  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  same  purposes. 

Laws  of  1878,  Chapter  252. 

AN  ACT  making  appropriations  for  certain  expenses  of  government 
and  supplying  deficiencies  in  former  appropriations. 

Passed  May  13,  1878. 


For  the  payment  of  the  expenses  for  finishing  the  work  of  renew- 
ing and  replacing  state  boundary  lines,  in  pursuance  of  chapter  four 
hundred  and  twenty-four  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy-five,  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars. 


Laws  of  1880,  Chapter  340. 

AN  ACT  to  provide  for  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  lines  be 
tween  the  State  of  New  York  and  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  respectively. 

Passed  May  20,  1880,  tliree-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York , represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly , do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  Whereas,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  the 
twenty-sixth  day  of  May,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-five,  the 
regents  of  the  university  were  authorized  and  directed,  “ in  connec- 
tion with  the  authorities  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  respect- 


214 


[Senate 


ively,  to  replace  any  monuments  which  have  become  dilapidated 
or  been  removed,  on  the  boundary  lines  of  those  States ; ” and 
whereas,  from  the  examination  made  by  said  regents,  it  has  been 
found  that  said  monuments,  as  located  by  the  original  joint  commis- 
sioners, do  not  conform  in  all  cases  to  the  verbal  descriptions  of 
said  lines,  and  questions  have  arisen  between  the  commissioners  of 
said  States  as  to  the  proper  location  of  said  monuments ; therefore, 
it  is  hereby  declared  that  the  lines  originally  laid  down  and  marked 
with  monuments  by  the  several  joint  commissioners,  duly  appointed 
for  that  purpose,  and  which  have  since  been  acknowledged  and 
legally  recognized  by  the  several  States  interested,  as  the  limits  of 
their  territory  and  jurisdiction,  are  the  boundary  lines  of  said  States, 
irrespective  of  want  of  conformity  to  the  verbal  descriptions  thereof. 

§ 2.  Said  regents  are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  des- 
ignate and  appoint  three  of  their  number  as  commissioners  to  meet 
such  commissioners  as  have  been  or  may  be  appointed  and  vested 
with  similar  powers  on  the  part  of  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  or  either  of  them,  and  with  such  last-mentioned  com- 
missioners, as  soon  as  may  be,  to  proceed  to  ascertain  and  agree  upon 
the  location  of  said  lines  as  originally  established  and  marked  with 
monuments  ; and  in  case  any  monuments  are  found  dilapidated  or 
removed  from  their  original  location,  said  commissioners  are  author- 
ized to  renew  or  replace  them  in  a durable  manner,  in  their  original 
positions,  and  to  erect  such  additional  monuments  at  such  places  on 
said  lines  as  they  may  deem  necessary,  for  the  proper  designation 
of  the  boundary  lines  of  said  States.  The  said  regents  shall  report 
the  action  of  said  commissioners  to  the  legislature  of  the  State  for 
its  consideration  and  ratification. 

§ 3.  The  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as 
may  be  necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated  out  of  any  moneys  in 
the  treasury  applicable  for  such  purposes,  to  pay  the  necessary 
expenses  and  disbursements  of  said  commissioners  in  the  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  required  by  this  act,  and  the  comptroller  is  au- 
thorized to  draw  his  warrant  upon  the  treasurer  for  moneys  hereby 
appropriated,  from  time  to  time,  as  the  same  may  be  needed. 

§ 4.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

In  pursuance  of  the  above  law,  the  Regents  of  the  University,  13 
July,  1880,  adopted  the  following  resolution: 

Whereas,  By  chapter  340  of  the  Laws  of  1880  the  Board  of 
Regents  are  “ authorized  and  empowered  to  designate  and  appoint 
three  of  their  number  as  Commissioners  to  meet  such  Commissioners 
as  have  been  or  may  be  appointed  and  vested  with  similar  powers  on 
the  part  of  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  or  either  of 
them,  and  to  proceed  to  ascertain  and  agree  upon  the  location  of  said 
lines  as  originally  established  and  marked  with  monuments there- 
fore, 

Resolved , That  Vice-Chancellor  Pierson  and  Regents  Leavenworth 
and  Depew  be  appointed  Commissioners  under  the  above  act,  with 
full  powers  to  carry  out  the  provisions  thereof. 


No.  71.] 


215 


Laws  of  1882,  Chapter  362. 

AN  ACT  making  appropriations  for  certain  expenses  of  government 
and  supplying  deficiencies  in  former  appropriations. 

Passed  June  27,  1882. 

For  the  commissioners  appointed  under  chapter  three  hundred  and 
forty  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty,  for  the  settlement  of 
the  boundary  lines  between  the  state  of  New  York  and  the  states  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  respectively,  for  the  necessary  ex- 
penses and  disbursements  under  said  act,  the  sum  of  five  thousand 
dollars  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary. 


Laws  of  1885,  Chapter  525. 

AN  ACT  making  appropriations  for  certain  expenses  of  government 
and  supplying  deficiencies  in  former  appropriations. 

Passed  June  13,  1885. 

For  the  Commissioners  appointed  under  chapter  three  hundred  and 
forty  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty,  for  the  settlement 
of  the  boundary  lines  between  the  state  of  New  York  and  the  states 
of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  respectively,  for  the  necessary  ex- 
penses and  disbursements  under  said  act,  the  sum  of  two  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars,  or  so  much  as  may  be  necessary.* 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Extract  from  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania,  entitled  An  Act,  To  provide  for  the  ordinary 
expenses  of  the  Government,  and  other  general  and  specific  appro- 
priations.” Approved  the  11th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1867. 

11  Section  75. — For  the  surveyor-general,  for  the  expenses  of  sur- 
veying and  determining  the  exact  position  of  the  stone  that  marks 
the  line,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  between  the  state  of  Pennsylvania 
and  New  York,  and  the  erection  of  a more  durable  monument,  fur- 
ther inland,  the  sum  of  two-hundred  dollars  ($200)  or  so  much  thereof 
as  may  be  necessary.” 

An  Act 

In  regard  to  the  boundary  monuments  on  the  line  between  the  State  of 

Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  with  an  appropriation  for  expenses 

of  same. 

[Passed  May  8,  1876.  P.  L.  142.] 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted , <&c.,  That  as  soon  as  practicable  after 
the  passage  of  this  act  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Governor  to  appoint 

* See  chapter  560,  Laws  of  1886  (N.Y.),  for  act  confirming  the  proceedings  of 
the  Commission;  and  chapter  449,  Laws  of  1886,  for  act  providing  for  the  care 
and  preservation  of  Boundary  monuments. 


216 


[Senate 


three  persons  to  be  a commission,  to  act  in  conjunction  with  a simi- 
lar commission  of  the  State  of  New  York,  to  examine  as  to  the  true 
location  of  the  monuments  which  mark  the  boundary  line  between 
this  State  and  the  State  of  New  York,  and  in  connection  with  said 
commission  of  the  said  State  of  New  York,  to  replace  any  monuments 
which  have  become  dilapidated  or  been  removed  on  the  boundary 
lines  of  said  States. 

§ 2.  The  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may 
be  necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated  for  expenses  of  renewing  and  re- 
placing monuments  and  for  contingent  expenses. 

§ 3.  Said  commission  shall  make  report  to  the  Secretary  of  Inter- 
nal Affairs  on  the  progress  of  the  work,  with  an  account  of  all  ex- 
penditures, which  shall  be  transmitted  by  said  Secretary  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  at  its  next  session;  and  said  commission  shall,  on  com- 
pletion of  said  work,  prepare  and  file  in  the  Department  of  Internal 
Affairs  a full  report  of  their  proceedings,  accompanied  with  such 
maps  or  drafts  as  may  be  necessary  to  a clear  understanding  of  the 
same. 

A Supplement 

To  an  act  in  regard  to  the  boundary  monuments  on  the  line  between 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  with  an  appropria- 
tion for  expenses  of  same,  approved  May  eighth,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  seventy -six,  app>ropriating  money  for  continuing  the 
provisions  of  the  said  act. 

[Passed  June  11,  1879.  P.  L.  182.] 

Whereas,  The  appropriation  provided  for  in  the  act  to  which  this 
act  is  a supplement,  amounted  only  to  the  sum  of  two  thousand 
dollars,  whereby  the  main  cost  of  the  survey  of  the  boundary  line 
has  fallen  upon  the  State  of  New  York,  the  commissioners  of  the 
said  State  having  carried  on  the  work  through  the  aid  of  their  own 
appropriation,  with  the  understanding,  however,  that  the  fact  should 
be  laid  before  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  which  has  been  done 
by  the  Governor  in  his  annual  message,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  seventy-nine,  and  trusting  that  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania would  bear  her  just  proportion  of  the  cost ; 

And  whereas,  The  amount  appropriated  by  the  State  of  New 
York  for  the  purpose  in  hand  is  eight  thousand  dollars,  of  which  a 
large  portion  has  been  already  expended,  and  the  work  not  yet  com- 
pleted : 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted,  dfcc.,  That  the  further  sum  of  six  thou- 
sand dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary,  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby  appropriated,  out  of  any  money  in  the  treasury  not 
otherwise  appropriated,  in  order  to  equalize  justly,  as  between  the 
States  of • New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  the  cost  of  carrying  out  the 
provisions  of  the  act  to  which  this  act  is  a supplement,  and  provide 
for  the  further  prosecution  of  the  surveys  and  investigations  defined 


JSTo.  71.] 


217 


in  the  said  act,  in  conjunction  with  the  said  State  of  New  York  ; and 
the  duty,  authority,  and  accountability  of  the  commissioners  on  the 
part  of  Pennsylvania,  appointed  by  the  Governor,  shall  continue  as 
in  the  said  act  prescribed,  no  portion  of  which  is  intended  to  be  re- 
pealed by  the  passage  of  this  act,  the  intention  being  to  aid  by  an 
appropriation  the  carrying  out  of  its  provisions. 

A Further  Supplement, 

To  an  act  in  regard  to  the  boundary  monuments  on  the  line  between 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Pork,  with  an  appropria- 
tion for  expenses  of  same,  approved  May  eighth,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventy -six,  appropriating  money  for  continu- 
ing the  provisions  of  the  said  act. 

[Passed  July  5,  1883,  P.  L.  190.] 

Whereas,  it  was  impracticable  when  the  act  to  which  this  act  is 
a supplement  was  passed,  to  ascertain  to  any  certainty  the  final  cost 
of  fulfilling  its  provisions ; 

And  whereas,  The  amounts  appropriated  in  said  act  and  its  sup- 
plement, approved  June  eleventh,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
seventy-nine,  being  in  all  eight  thousand  dollars,  have  proved  inade- 
quate for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a line  or  lines,  with  monu- 
ments, over  two  hundred  and  forty  miles  in  length ; 

And  whereas , The  State  of  New  York  has  appropriated  some 
eight  thousand  dollars  more  than  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  has 
done  for  this  purpose,  besides  contributing  the  services  of  three  of 
her  regents  of  the  university ; 

And  whereas,  The  cost  of  such  a line  completed  has  been  ascer- 
tained per  mile  by  actual  outlay  on  the  line  established  between 
Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  ; 

Arid  whereas,  Through  loss  of  time  occasioned  by  a discussion  of 
final  methods,  now,  however,  fully  settled,  an  appropriation  by  the 
Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  at  its  session  of  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  eighty-one,  failed  for  the  time  being,  whereby  a considera- 
ble portion  of  the  work  upon  which  there  was  no  disagreement  in 
the  joint  commission  has  been  done  by  the  commissioners  of  the 
State  of  New  York  alone,  they  expecting  their  State  to  be  remu- 
nerated by  Pennsylvania  to  the  extent  of  her  moiety,  through  the 
promised  representations  of  her  commissioners,  to  be  laid  before  the 
Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  at  its  present  session; 

And  whereas,  The  amount  herein  proposed  to  be  appropriated, 
will,  judging  from  experience  on  the  western  boundary  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, it  is  believed,  complete  the  line  at  a reasonable  cost  per  mile 
as  contemplated  by  the  act  to  which  this  act  is  a supplement ; there- 
fore, 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted,  Ac.,  That  the  further  sum  *of  eight 
thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary,  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  marking  perma- 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  28 


218  [Senate 

nently  the  boundary  line  or  lines  between  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York,  as  contemplated  in  the  original  act  to  which  this  act  is  a sup- 
plement, and  of  equalizing  the  just  cost  of  the  same  to  each  of  the 
States  interested,  and  the  duty,  authority,  and  accountability  of  the 
commissioners  on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania,  appointed  bv  the 
Governor,  shall  continue  as  in  the  said  act  prescribed,  no  portion  of 
which  is  intended  to  be  repealed  by  the  passage  of  this  act ; the  ob- 
ject being  to  aid  by  an  appropriation  the  carrying  out  of  its  pro- 
visions. 

No.  72. 

A Further  Supplement 

To  an  act  providing  for  the  adjustment  of  the  Boundary  line  be- 
tween New  York  and  Pennsylvania , approved  on  the  eighth  day 
of  May , one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy - six,  and  its 
supplements , appropriating  money  for  the  completion  of  the  same. 

Whereas,  The  amount  of  money  appropriated  by  the  several 
acts,  to  which  this  act  is  a further  supplement,  has  proved  inade- 
quate for  the  purposes  provided  for  in  said  acts ; therefore, 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted , dec.,  That  the  further  sum  of  three 
thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary,  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  appropriated  to  be  applied  to  the  completion  of 
the  same,  and  to  be  expended  in  strict  accordance  with  the  provis- 
ions of  the  acts  to  which  this  act  is  a further  supplement. 

Approved  — The  lltli  day  of  June,  A.  D.,  1885. 

EOBT.  E.  PATTISON. 


No.  71.] 


219 


APPENDIX  AA. 


Instructions. 

To  H.  Wadsworth  Clarke,  C.  E.,  Surveyor  on  the  part  of  New 
York , and 

Christopher  M.  Gere,  C.  E.,  Surveyor  on  the  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

At  a joint  meeting  of  tlie  Boundary  Commissioners  of  the  States 
of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  held  at  the  city  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
on  the  25th  day  of  July,  1883,  the  following  instructions  for  the 
further  prosecution  of  the  work  of  ascertaining  and  re  marking  the 
Boundary  line  between  the  two  States,  were  adopted  and  ordered  to 
be  transmitted  to  the  Surveyors. 

1.  The  work  of  ascertaining  and  re-marking  the  Boundary  line 
between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  is  to  be  resumed  as  soon  as 
possible  at  its  Eastern  extremity,  and  to  be  continued  during  the 
remainder  of  the  season  of  1883  and  during  as  much  of  the  season 
of  1884  as  may  be  necessary  for  its  completion. 

2.  Wherever  practicable  the  locations  of  the  old  Boundary  Monu- 
ments are  to  be  ascertained,  and  in  case  they  are  still  in  existence 
they  are  to  be  restored  and  re-set  in  a substantial  manner  in  their 
original  location.* 

3.  At  each  mile  interval  along  the  line  a new  monument  of  the 
form  and  character  hereinafter  described  is  to  be  established,  and  in 
case  the  old  monument  still  remains  at  any  point,  the  new  monu- 
ment is  to  be  placed  on  the  line  in  a position  contiguous  to  the  old 
monument.f 

4.  In  cases  where  the  old  monuments  which  marked  the  Boundary 
line  are  missing,  such  evidence  of  their  original  locations  as  may  be 
obtained  is  to  be  collected,  and  when  this  is  deemed  sufficient  the 
new  monuments  are  to  be  set  accordingly ; but  in  cases  where  the 
original  location  of  the  line  cannot  otherwise  be  determined,  a strait 
line  is  to  be  run  between  the  nearest  adjacent  points  whose  locations 
are  known  and  on  this  strait  line  and  at  the  proper  intervals  the  new 
monuments  are  to  be  established. 

5.  In  the  event  of  a serious  doubt  as  to  the  proper  location  for 
any  one  of  the  proposed  monuments,  or  of  a disagreement  between 

* From  the  small  size  and  irregular  shape  of  many  of  the  original  milestones 
(quite  a number  being  broken)  it  was  found  impracticable  to  carry  this  out 
generally.  The  smaller  ones  were  used  as  witness  marks  under  the  new  monu- 
ments. 

\ See  previous  note.  The  old  monuments,  most  of  them,  could  hardly  be  set 
permanently  without  entirely  burying  them. 


220 


[Senate 


the  two  Surveyors  as  to  such  location,  the  question  in  doubt  or  dis- 
pute is  to  be  submitted  to  the  Joint  Commission,  and  to  be  decided 
after  investigation  and  consultation,  by  mutual  agreement. 

6.  At  each  highway  and  at  each  line  of  railway  and  river  crossed 
by  the  Boundary  line,  and  in  a strait  line  between  the  nearest  adja- 
cent mile  monuments,  monuments  of  the  form  and  character  herein- 
after described  are  to  be  established  in  a conspicuous  but  secure 
location  at  the  side  of  such  highway,  railroad,  or  river. 

7.  The  mile  monuments  hereinbefore  referred  to  are  to  be  of 
granite,  four  feet  long,  the  top  to  be  dressed  six  inches  square, 
to  a distance  down  of  six  inches  ; upon  one  side,  to  be  cut  the  let- 
ters “ N.  Y.”  upon  the  opposite  “PA.,”  and  upon  a third  side  a 
number  corresponding  to  the  number  of  miles  from  the  eastern  ex- 
tremity of  the  line ; quarter-inch  grooves  to  be  cut  at  right  angles 
across  the  center  of  the  top  parallel  to  the  sides.* 

8.  The  monuments  to  be  erected  at  highways  as  hereinbefore  de- 
scribed are  to  be  of  the  same  material  as  the  mile  monuments,  but  to 
be  four  atid  one-half  feet  in  length,  and  six  by  twelve  inches  in  cross- 
section,  and  dressed  at  the  top  for  a distance  of  one  foot ; and  they 
are  to  be  marked  in  the  same  manner  as  the  mile  monuments,  except 
that  they  are  not  to  be  marked  with  numbers.  The  monuments  to 
be  erected  at  railways  and  rivers  are  to  be  of  the  same  form  and 
material  as  the  mile  monuments  as  described  in  the  seventh  section, 
except  that  no  numbers  are  to  be  inscribed  upon  them. 

9.  The  excavations  to  receive  the  monuments  are  to  be  carried  six 
inches  below  the  bottom  of  the  monument,  and  powdered  charcoal 
or  other  durable  foreign  material  is  to  be  sprinkled  over  the  bottom, 
and  a flat  disk  of  earthenware,  six  inches  in  diameter,  perforated  in 
the  center,  is  to  be  placed  vertically  beneath  the  point  to  be  marked 
by  the  monument ; the  monument  is  to  be  sunk  so  that  in  the  case  of 
the  mile,  railway,  and  river  monuments,  only  six  inches  of  the  top  shall 
project  above  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  in  case  of  highway  mon- 
uments, twelve  inches.  Each  monument  is  to  be  secured  in  its 
proper  place  by  packing  broken  stone  and  earth  in  the  excavation 
around  it. 

10.  Special  monuments  of  a more  elaborate  character  are  to  be 
erected  to  mark  the  eastern  termination  at  the  Delaware  Biver  of 
that  portion  of  the  Boundary  line  constituting  the  forty-second  par- 
allel, and  also  the  western  termination  where  the  parallel  intersects 
the  Meridian  Boundary  line  between  the  two  States,  f 

The  material  and  plans  for  these  monuments  are  to  be  substantially 
the  same  as  for  those  erected  by  the  Commissioners  to  mark  the  ter- 
minal points  of  the  Boundary  line  between  the  States  of  New  York 
and  New  Jersey.  Commissioner  Worrall  on  the  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Commissioner  Leavenworth  on  the  part  of  New  York 
are  specially  charged  with  the  erection  of  these  monuments,  and  the 

*Mile  monuments,  the  locations  of  which  were  in  highways,  were  made  of  the 
size  and  form  prescribed  in  the  next  paragraph. 

f See  Sketch  No.  9 for  an  illustration  of  these  monuments. 


No.  71.] 


221 


Surveyors  are  to  set  sucli  monuments  in  a substantial  and  permanent 
manner. 

11.  The  Stations  established  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Boundary  line 
by  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey  for  the  purpose  of 
determining  the  latitude  of  the  line,  are  to  be  marked  in  a sub- 
stantial and  permanent  manner,  by  granite  monuments  of  such  form 
and  dimensions  as  the  Surveyors  may  decide,  and  the  location  of  these 
monuments  and  their  character  and  purpos'e  are  to  be  indicated  in 
the  description  of  the  line.  (See  Appendix  D.) 

12.  Accurate  records  of  the  work  done  in  re-marking  this  Bound- 
ary are  to  be  kept,  in  which  shall  be  given,  among  other  things, 
descriptions  of  the  several  monuments,  together  with  their  under- 
ground marks,  nature  of  the  soil,  their  surroundings,  and  temporary 
witness  marks  which  may  serve  to  identify  their  location.  These 
records  are  to  be  made  out  in  duplicate,  one  copy  for  New  York  and 
one  for  Pennsylvania. 

13.  The  topographical  map  of  the  line  is  to  be  prepared,  upon 
which  the  exact  positions  of  the  monuments  are  to  be  indicated,  and 
this  map  is  to  be  duplicated,  so  that  one  copy  may  be  furnished  to 
the  Commissioners  of  New  York,  and  one  to  the  Commissioners  of 
Pennsylvania. 

14.  At  the  close  of  the  present  season  of  1883,  a report  of  the 
progress  of  the  work  is  to  be  prepared,  giving  details  of  the  parts 
accomplished  and  the  parts  still  remaining,  and  also  a statement  of 
the  expenditures  incurred,  and  estimates  of  the  expenditures  re- 
quired to  complete  the  same.  At  the  close  of  the  work,  a full  report 
of  your  work  of  surveying  and  re-marking  the  entire  line  is  to  be 
prepared,  giving  such  particulars  as  to  the  history  of  the  line,  the 
mode  of  settling  doubtful  points,  and  such  descriptions  of  the  monu- 
ments, their  location  and  their  surroundings,  as  will  serve  to  make  a 
complete  record  of  the  Boundary  Line;  and  both  these  reports 
must  be  prepared  in  duplicate  so  that  one  copy  may  be  furnished  to 
the  Commissioners  of  New  York,  and  one  copy  to  the  Commis- 
sioners of  Pennsylvania. 

15.  Accurate  and  detailed  accounts  are  to  be  kept  of  expenses 
incurred  in  the  prosecution  of  your  work  and  quadruplicate  vouchers 
are  to  be  taken  therefor.  A monthly  abstract  of  these  expenses  in 
duplicate  is  to  be  presented,  charging  to  each  State  the  one-half  of 
such  expenses,  one  copy  for  each  of  the  States,  each  abstract  to  be  ac- 
companied with  duplicate  vouchers  of  each  of  the  items  therein.  You 
will  be  authorized  to  draw  in  advance  for  funds  with  which  to  meet 
the  current  expenses  of  your  work,  one-half  from  each  State,  such 
advances  to  be  accounted  for  in  your  monthly  statements. 

A true  copy  of  the  minutes. 

DAVID  MURRAY, 

Secretary  of  the  Joint  Commission. 

Approved, 

JAMES  WORRALL, 

Chairman  of  Joint  Commission. 


222 


[Senate 


APPENDIX  B. 


Schedule  of  Milestones,  and  a Few  of  the  Principal  Monu- 
ments, set  upon  the  Parallel  Boundary  in  1881-2-3-4. 

A description  of  each  monument  and  its  location  is  given,  with 
data  for  its  ready  discovery  and  identification.  The  date  each 
monument  was  set  is  added  at  the  end  of  each  description. 

The  New  Monuments  set  upon  the  Parallel  Boundary,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Large  Initial  monument  at  the  Delaware  river, 
are  of  reddish-gray  granite  from  the  quarries  of  John  Beattie, 
Leete’s  Island,  Connecticut. 

They  are  of  five  classes,  of  which  the  following  descriptions  are 
taken  from  the  official  “Record  of  Monuments:”  (See  Sketch 
No.  16.) 


“ First  Class  — Highway  Monuments. 

“These  are  placed  at  highways  intersecting  or  following  the 
Boundary.  Milestones  placed  beside  highways  are  of  the  first  class. 
The  monuments  are  4£  feet  long,  the  top  is  dressed  rectangular,  12 
inches  by  6 inches,  and  at  right-angles  across  the  center,  parallel 
with  the  edges,  are  cut  two  quarter-inch  grooves ; the  upper  end  of 
each  side  to  the  depth  of  12  inches  is  also  dressed,  and  upon  one 
broad  (North)  face,  are  cut  the  letters  4 N.  Y.,’  and  upon  the  other 
(South),  the  letters  4 PA.?  A milestone  of  the  first  class  has,  in 
addition,  the  number  of  the  original  mile  monument  with  the  addi- 
tion of  the  letter  4 M.’  These  monuments  weigh  from  375  to  500 
pounds. 

“ In  setting  monuments  of  this  class,  the  longer  groove  was  uni- 
formly placed  in  the  direction  of  the  Boundary. 

“ Monuments  of  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  classes  are  4 feet 
long ; the  top  is  dressed  6 inches  square,  and  the  upper  end  of  each 
side  is  also  dressed  to  the  depth  of  6 inches.  They  weigh  from  170 
to  220  pounds. 


“ Second  Class  — Milestones. 

“ These  are  placed  at  the  original  mile-points,  which  are  not 
marked  by  monuments  of  the  First  or  Fourth  classes.  Across  the 
top,  at  right-angles,  and  parallel  with  the  faces,  are  cut  two  quarter- 
inch  grooves.  "On  opposite  faces  are  cut  the  letters  4 X.  Y.’  (north) 
- and  4 PA.’  (south),  and  upon  a third  (east  face)  the  number  of  the 
original  monument  with  the  letter  4 M.’ 

44  Third  Class. 

44  These  are  similar  in  all  respects  to  monuments  of  the  Second 


C Sketch  Wo.  16 

JSoanclcL^u  JH^oniuneniJ' 

,J  ^n.ci 

c7t&etho(t  offsetting. 


Ho.  71.] 


223 


Class,  with  the  exception  that  the  number  upon  the  third  face  is 
omitted,  except  in  a few  instances.  They  are  placed  at  Railway  and 
River  intersections,  and  at  such  other  points  as  were  necessary. 

“ Monuments  of  the  Second  and  Third  Classes  are  set  so  that  the 
faces  containing  the  letters  ‘N.  Y.’  and  £PA.’  are  parallel  with  the 
Boundary. 

“ Fourth  Glass. 

“ Diagonally  across  the  top  are  cut  two  quarter-inch  grooves,  and 
the  monuments  are  set  so  that  one  of  the  diagonal  grooves  is  in  the 
direction  of  the  Boundary.  The  faces  are  specially  lettered.  These 
monuments  are  generally  milestones  marking  Town  or  County  Cor- 
ners, and  the  face  of  the  stone  toward  the  Town  or  County  is 
marked  with  the  initial  letter  of  the  name. 

“ Fifth  Class. 

“ Monuments  of  this  class  are  placed  to  mark  the  Astronomical 
Stations  of  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey,  occupied 
in  1877  and  1879.  Each  monument  is  a block  of  granite  of  the 

feneral  dimensions  of  12  inches  square  and  18  inches  or  more  deep. 

’he  top  is  dressed  and  the  station  point  is  marked  upon  it  in  the 
center  by  a cross  (-{-).  Upon  the  top  are  also  cut  the  name  of  the 
Station,  the  letters  ‘ U.  S.  C.  & G.  S.,’  and  the  year  in  which  the 
Station  was  occupied.”  (See  Appendix  D.) 

Ordinary  Highway  Monuments,  Railroad  monuments,  and  monu- 
ments of  the  Fifth  class  are  not  included  in  the  following  schedule. 
For  detailed  descriptions  of  these,  reference  must  be  had  to  the  offi- 
cial Record. 


The  Manner  of  Setting. 

“With  a few  exceptions,  the  manner  of  setting  monuments  of  the 
First,  Second,  Third,  and  Fourth  classes  was  as  follows: — 

“ A hole  of  proper  size  was  excavated  to  a depth  of  at  least  4 
feet.  In  the  bottom  was  carefully  laid  a circular  disk,  6 inches  in 
diameter,  and  one  inch  thick,  with  a small  hole  in  the  center.  The 
hole  in  the  disk  was  placed  vertically  beneath  the  point  to  be  marked, 
which  is  indicated  by  the  intersection  of  the  grooves  in  the  top  of 
the  monument. 

“ The  disks  used  in  1881,  and  under  a few  monuments  in  1882, 
were  unglazed  earthenware  (brick).  The  disks  generally  used  were 
glazed  stoneware.  In  a few  instances,  disks  were  omitted. 

“ The  disk  in  the  bottom  of  the  excavation  was  carefully  buried  in 
four  or  five  inches  of  foreign  material,  generally  vegetable,  upon 
which  a flat  stone  (occasionally  a piece  of  board)  wTas  placed,  and 
upon  this  the  monument  stands. 

“ Each  monument  was  carefully  placed  so  that  the  dressed  faces 
are  vertical,  the  proper  groove  upon  the  top  lying  in  the  direction 


224 


[Senate 


of  the  Boundary,  and  the  excavation  was  filled  about  it  with  earth 
and  stone,  well  rammed,  until  all  the  monument  except  the  dressed 
faces,  is  buried.  In  a number  of  instances,  the  excavation  was 
partly  filled  with  hydraulic-cement  mortar  and  broken  stone.”* 

Broome  County,  N.  Y. 

A small  monument  was  set  on  the  Delaware  County  side  of  the 
Delaware  Diver,  at  the  intersection  of  an  easterl}7  jn-olongation  of  the 
Boundary  with  the  Meridian  of  Astronomical  StationTravis.  Thismon- 
ument  is  marked  with  diagonal  grooves  upon  the  top,  and  is  set  flush 
with  the  surface  of  the  ground  just  north  of  the  wagon-track  of  the 
highway,  202525  feet  East  of  the  large  Initial  Monument  west  of  the 
River,  and  816  feet  South  of  the  center  of  a granite  monument  mark- 
ing Station  Travis.  (The  latter  monument  is  2j-  feet  underground, 
and  is  46297  feet  South  39°  36'  East  (true)  from  the  south-easterly 
corner  of  the  foundation  of  the  main  part  of  the  dwelling  of  John 
Hills.)  The  latitude  of  the  intersection  monument  is  42°  00'  01". 85. 
April  12,  1884. 

Upon  a rock,  above  high-water  mark  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
River,  984  feet  South  of  the  intersection  monument,  in  the  meridian 
of  Station  Travis,  is  cut  a “crow-foot”  for  a meridian  mark.  Messrs. 
A.  Lord  and  John  Brown  of  Hale’s  Eddy,  and  M.  R.  11  nice  of  De- 
posit can  show  its  position. 

A large  Initial  Monument  of  Rhode  Island  granite,  600  feet  west 
of  the  center  of  the  Delaware  River,  near  the  south-westerly  side  of 
the  road  along  the  right  bank  of  the  River.  This  monument  is  fully 
described  and  illustrated  in  the  Report  for  1882.  April  11, 1884. 
(See  Sketch  No.  9.) 

Milestone  1 is  a highway  monument  about  30  feet  East  of  a road 
which  winds  up  the  mountain,  south-east  from  Hale’s  Eddy,  on  the 
west  side  of  a deep  ravine.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  July 
18,  1882. 

Milestone  2 is  a small  monument  near  the  left  bank  of  Sand  Pond 
Brook,  about  870  feet  East  of  a monument  in  the  west  side  of  the 
highway  near  S.  B.  Alexander’s  house.  Original  milestone  not  found. 
July  18,  1882. 

The  top  of  original  Milestone  3 stands  opposite  the  point  where  it 
was  found,  on  a very  steep,  rocky,  southerly  slope,  almost  inaccessi- 
ble. It  was  found  out  of  place  in  1877.  July  20,  1882. 

New  Milestone  3 is  a small  monument,  in  the  west  edge  of  woods 
near  the  east  side  of  a wood  road,  21  chains  west  of  the  position  of 
the  original.  July  20,  1882. 

Milestone  4 is  a highway  monument  standing  on  the  north-easterly 
side  of  the  road  along  the  left  bank  of  the  east  branch  of  Sand  Pond 
Brook.  The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  July  19,  1882. 

Milestone  5 is  a small  monument  in  the  north-westerly  part  of  a 

* The  Angular  Deflections  in  the  Boundary,  at  the  various  monument  points, 
will  be  found  in  Appendix  C. 


No.  71.] 


225 


clearing,  about  a quarter  of  a mile  north  of  George  Lee’s  house,  near 
the  top  of  a south-easterly  slope,  about  500  feet  East  of  the  summit 
of  the  ridge  east  of  the  west  branch  of  Sand  Pond  Brook.  Replaces 
the  original  milestone.  July  17,  1882. 

All  the  monuments  east  of  Milestone  5 are  in  a curved  line,  having 
the  normal  curvature  of  the  parallel,  passing  through  Milestones  5 
and  1. 

Milestone  6 is  a small  monument,  at  the  foot  of  a steep  easterly 
slope,  about  155  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  on  the  west  side 
of  the  road  south  from  Danville.  Replaces  original  milestone.  July 
15, 1882. 

The  corner  of  Wayne  and  Susquehanna  Counties,  Penn.,  is  marked 
by  a highway  monument  near  the  point  at  which  the  road  which  fol- 
lows the  Boundary  turns  toward  the  South-west  and  leaves  the  line. 
July  15,  1882. 

Milestone  7 is  a small  monument  in  cleared  land  near  the  foot  of 
a steep  slope,  the  easterly  side  of  Deep  Hollow,  about  1692  feet  East 
of  a highway  monument  at  the  Deep  Hollow  Road.  Replaces  the 
original  milestone.  July  14,  1882. 

Milestone  8 is  a small  monument  in  a wind-fall  in  thick  woods, 
about  200  feet  West  of  the  top  of  a steep  westerly  slope,  about  3684 
feet  West  of  the  highway  monument  at  the  Deep  Hollow  Road. 
Original  milestone  not  found.  July  14,  1882. 

Milestone  9 is  a small  monument,  in  thick  woods  on  a steep  east- 
erly slope,  about  150  feet  East  of  the  summit  of  a narrow  ridge,  and 
about  2600  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  at  Pig-pen  Run  road. 
Original  milestone  not  found.  July  13,  1882. 

Milestones  8 and  9 are  in  line  between  Milestones  7 and  10. 

The  cofner  of  the  Towns  of  Sanford  and  Windsor  is  marked  by 
a small  monument,  marked  on  the  top  with  diagonal  grooves;  it  is 
440  feet  East  of  Milestone  10.  July  12,  1882. 

Milestone  10  is  a small  monument  in  thick  woods  near  a wood-road, 
south-east  of  a large  upturned  root,  605  feet  East  of  a small  monument 
at  a new  road,  at  the  corner  of  the  farms  of  Lynes  and  O’Rourke. 
Replaces  the  original  milestone.  July  12, 1882. 

Milestone  11  is  a small  monument  at  the  foot  of  a steep  North- 
westerly slope,  13567  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  at 
the  west  side  of  the  east  Cascade  Yalley  road.  Replaces  the  origi- 
nal milestone.  July  11,  1882. 

Milestone  12  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  the  summit  of  a 
high  narrow  ridge  between  Cascade  Yalley  and  the  Susquehanna 
River.  This  Milestone  is  in  line  between  Milestone  11  and  the  east 
River  monument.  The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  July  11, 
1882. 

Two  small  monuments  mark  the  intersection  of  the  Boundary  with 
the  Susquehanna  River.  That  upon  the  left  bank  is  50  feet  East  of 
the  original  monument  which  stands  at  the  edge  of  the  River  bank. 
July  7,  1882.  That  upon  the  right  bank  is  20  feet  west  of  the  origi- 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  29 


226  [Senate 

nal  monument  which  stands  upon  the  edge  of  the  River  bank.  July 
26,  1882.  The  line  is  not  continuous  across  the  River. 

Milestone  13  is  a small  monument  in  cleared  land,  1698  feet  West 
of  the  monument  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  River.  The 
original  milestone,  which  had  been  displaced,  was  re-set  at  the  west 
side  of  the  new  monument.  August  4,  1883. 

The  Corner  of  the  Hooper  Patent  and  the  Third  Tract  in  Wind- 
sor is  marked  by  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves ; upon  a 
steep  northerly  slope  in  a laurel  thicket  in  thick  woods,  opposite  the 
position  of  the  stone  set  by  the  State  Deputy  Surveyor  in  1841, 
59 15  feet  east  of  Milestone  14.  August  7,  1883. 

Milestone  14  is  a small  monument  in  a laurel  thicket  in  thick 
woods;  steep  northerly  slope ; 16475  feet  east  of  a highway  monu- 
ment standing  at  the  S.  W.  side  of  a road  on  the  summit  of  the 
ridge.  The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  August  6,  1883. 

The  last  three  monuments  are  in  line  between  the  monument  stand- 
ing on  the  right  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  River  and  Milestone  15. 

Milestone  15  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves;  in 
cleared  land  about  250  feet  East  of  the  foot  of  a steep  easterly  slope 
and  5575  feet  West  of  a highway  monument  at  the  west  side  of  a 
road  along  the  west  side  of  the  valley.  This  monument  replaces 
the  original  milestone,  and  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Oak- 
land and  Great  Bend  in  Susquehanna  County,  Pa.  25  July,  1882. 

Milestone  16  is  a small  monument  in  a wet  meadow,  6727  feet 
West  of  a highway  monument  on  the  N.  E.  side  of  the  road 
north-west  from  Locust  Hill  Church.  Replaces  the  original  mile- 
stone. July  24,  1882. 

Milestone  17  is  a small  monument  on  a short  steep  easterly  slope, 
about  40  feet  from  the  brow ; 3698  feet  East  of  a highway  monu- 
ment on  the  west  side  of  the  road  along  west  side  of  the  valley, 
N.  E.  from  Red  Rock.  The  original  milestone  was  not  found. 
August  5,  1883. 

Milestone  18  is  a small  monument  in  a clear  patch  near  the  south- 
west corner  of  a piece  of  wmods.  West  side  of  rocky  summit  near 
the  brow  of  a high  steep  north-westerly  slope,  overlooking  the  valley 
of  the  east  branch  of  Trowbridge  Creek.  The  original  milestone 
was  not  found.  August  16,  1883. 

Milestones  17  and  18  are  in  an  easterly  prolongation  of  a line  be- 
tween the  First  Latitude  Stone  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Susquehanna 
River  and  Milestone  19. 

Milestone  19  is  a small  monument  in  thick  young  woods  on  a steep 
easterly  slope,  about  465  feet  West  of  Trowbridge  Creek.  Replaces 
original  milestone,  which  was  reset  at  the  west  side  of  the  new 
monument.  August  11,  1883. 

“ Fan-tail  Corner  55  is  a rough  monument  of  native  rock,  165  feet 
West  of  Milestone  19.  It  marks  the  common  corner  of  6 Pennsyl- 
vania sub-divisions. 

The  corner  of  the  towns  of  Windsor  and  Kirkwood  is  marked  by 


No.  71.] 


227 


a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves;  in  the  open  held  4424  feet 
west  of  a highway  monument  upon  the  high  summit  North  of  the 
village  of  Great  Bend,  and  20377  feet  West  of  Milestone  19; 
959  feet  South-westerly  from  the  South-westerly  corner  of  Squire’s 
big  barn.  April  15,  1884. 

Milestone  20  is  a small  monument  upon  the  River  flats,  6 544  feet 
East  of  a highway  monument  on  the  east  side  of  the  River 
Road.  It  is  in  line  between  Milestones  19  and  the  First  Latitude 
Stone  (Milestone  20|).  The  original  monument  was  not  found. 
August  18,  1883. 

Astronomical  Station  Finn  is  marked  by  a granite  monument 
buried  2J-  feet  under  ground,  976  feet  north-westerly  from  the  north- 
westerly corner  of  the  foundation  of  the  main  part  of  James  Finn’s 
dwelling.  The  center  of  the  Station  is  2563  feet  North  and  142s 
feet  West  of  the  highway  monument  on  the  west  side  of  the  River 
road.  April  16,  1S84. 

A small  monument  is  set  in  the  meridian  of  Station  Finn,  6507 
feet  North  of  the  Station,  at  the  south  side  of  a stone  wall  on  the 
north  line  of  the  land  of  John  Cline.  April  16,  1884. 

Milestone  20-f  is  a small  monument  at  the  east  side  of  the  base  of 
the  First  Latitude  Stone  which  was  left  in  place,  about  20  feet  East 
of  the  right  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  River.  The  latitude  of  this 
monument  as  deduced  from  the  Astronomical  observations  at  Station 
Finn,  is  41°  59' 56".71.  July  27,  1882. 

Milestone  21  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  standing 
upon  the  probable  site  of  the  original  milestone  at  the  north  end  of 
the  summit  of  the  high  ridge  between  the  Susquehanna  River  and 
Snake  Creek.  It  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Great  Bend  and 
Liberty,  Susquehanna  County,  Penn.  August  21, 1883. 

Milestone  22  is  a highway  monument  at  the  west  side  of  the 
Montrose  and  Binghamton  Turnpike,  west  side  of  Snake  Creek 
valley ; in  line  between  Milestones  21  and  23.  The  original  mile- 
stone was  not  found.  Aug.  20, 1883. 

Milestone  23  is  a small  monument  a little  east  of  a wood  road, 
surrounded  by  briars  and  upturned  roots,  north  of  a small  brook 
which  runs  South-east.  Replaces  original  milestone.  August  21, 
1883. 

Milestone  24  is  a small  monument  in  a shallow  gully  in  an  open 
field  belonging  to  Chas.  Adams,  3297  feet  East  of  a highway  monu- 
ment standing  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  leading  to  Corbettsville. 
The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  Aug.  25,  1883. 

Milestone  25  is  a small  monument  in  the  west  edge  of  “Wolf 
Swamp,”  which  was  formerly  the  bottom  of  a mill-pond.  The 
original  milestone  has  been  displaced  for  years.  Milestones  24  and 
25  are  set  in  line  between  Milestones  23  and  26.  August  24,  1883. 

Milestone  26  is  a small  monument  in  thick  woods  about  100  feet 
North  of  a clearing,  and  just  below  the  top  of  a steep  slope  west  of 
north,  opposite  the  bottom  of  a deep  hollow  in  the  road  which 


228 


[Senate 


passes  nearly  parallel  with  the  line,  a short  distance  south:  398  feet 
West  of  the  S.  E.  Corner  of  the  Town  of  Binghamton.  Replaces 
the  original  milestone.  Aug.  28,  1883. 

Milestone  27  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  standing 
in  the  south  side  of  a road  which  follows  the  line,  and  197  feet  West 
of  a highway  monument  at  the  point  where  the  road  turns  from  the 
line  toward  the  north-east.  It  is  in  line  between  Milestones  26  and 
28.  The  original  milestone  had  been  displaced  in  working  the 
road.  It  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Liberty  and  Silver 
Lake  in  Susquehanna  Co.,  Penn.  Sept.  4,  1883. 

Milestone  28  is  a highway  monument  at  the  west  side  of  the  old 
Hawleyton  turnpike.  Replaces  an  old  Pennsylvania  Corner  stone 
which  was  assumed  as  marking  the  site  of  the  original  milestone, 
which  was  not  found.  Sept.  3,  1883. 

Milestone  29  is  a small  monument  in  cleared  land  north  side  of  a 
stone  wall,  upon  a westerly  slope,  about  100  feet  west  of  the  summit, 
and  north  of  the  village  of  Brackney ; 1415  feet  East  of  a highway 
monument  west  side  of  road  from  Brackneyville.  The  original 
milestone  was  not  found.  Sept.  5,  1883. 

Milestone  30  is  in  cleared  pasture  land  about  70  feet  west  of  a 
brook,  8756  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  near  the 
N.  W.  corner  of  a barn.  The  original  milestone  was  not  found. 
Sept.  5,  1883. 

Milestones  29  and  30  are  set  in  line  between  Milestones  28  and  31. 

Milestone  31  is  a highway  monument  in  the  south  side  of  a road 
on  line,  about  124  feet  East  of  a brook  crossing  the  road.  It  is  in  an 
easterly  prolongation  of  a line  from  Milestone  33  through  a rough 
stone  monument  standing  746  feet  West  of  Milestone  31,  known  as 
the  u State  Line  Stone.”  The  original  milestone  had  been  displaced 
for  years.  Sept.  6,  1883. 

Milestone  32  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  standing 
about  75  feet  West  of  the  west  side  of  the  summit  of  the  high 
ridge  East  of  the  Choconut  Yalley.  It  is  set  in  line  between  Mile- 
stones 31  and  33  and  marks  the  corner  of  the  towns  of  Silver  Lake 
and  Choconut  in  Susquehanna  County,  Penn.  The  original  mile- 
stone was  found  displaced.  Sept.  6,  1883. 

Milestone  33  is  a small  monument  upon  the  east  slope  of  the 
mountain  935  feet  West  of  Choconut  Creek.  Replaces  original  mile- 
stone. Aug.  4,  1882. 

Milestone  34  is  a small  monument  on  a rough  slope  East,  covered 
with  burnt  woods,  78  feet  West  of  a small  brook,  running  South. 
In  line  between  Milestones  33  and  35.  The  original  milestone  was 
not  found.  Sept.  10,  1883. 

Milestone  35  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  top  of  a steep 
bluff,  sloping  south  of  east  142  feet  West  of  the  corner  of  the  (N. 
Y.)  farms  of  Warrick  and  Waffel.  It  was  set  in  an  easterly  pro- 
longation of  the  line  between  Milestones  36  and  39.  The  original 
milestone  was  not  found.  Sept.  10,  1883. 


No.  71.] 


229 


Milestone  36  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a thick  briar-patch, 
north  edge  of  thick  woods,  303  feet  West  of  a highway  monument 
standing  beside  the  Tracy  Creek  road.  It  replaced  the  original 
milestone.  Sept.  11,  18S3. 

Milestone  37  is  a small  monument  in  south  edge  of  woods,  300 
feet  East  of  a deep  ravine,  and  1028s  feet  East  of  a highway  monu- 
ment on  the  west  side  of  a road.  It  is  set  in  line  between  Mile- 
stones 36  and  39.  The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  Aug. 
5,  1882. 

The  South-west  corner  of  Broome  County  is  marked  by  a small 
monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  in  cleared  land,  8096  feet  East  of 
Milestone  38  and  about  1600  feet  west  of  the  summit  of  the  ridge 
South-east  of  Jones  Creek.  Sept.  12,  1883. 

Tioga  County,  N.  Y. 

Milestone  38  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods  beside 
an  abandoned  road,  near  the  north-west  corner  of  a clearing,  809* 
feet  West  of  the  south-west  corner  of  Broome  County.  It  is  set  in 
line  between  Milestones  36  and  39.  The  original  milestone  was  not 
found.  Aug.  5,  1882. 

Milestone  39  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  South  side 
of  a road  which  follows  the  Boundary  north-east  of  the  village  of 
Little  Meadows ; a short  distance  west  of  the  intersection  of  Jones 
Creek.  Replaces  the  original  milestone,  which  was  reset  at  the  east 
side  of  the  new  monument.  Aug.  2,  1882. 

Milestone  39|  is  a small  monument  midway  in  line  between  Mile- 
stones 39  and  40.  It  is  in  the  meridian  of  Astronomical  Station 
Little  Meadows,  241  feet  South  of  the  center  of  the  Station,  about 
75  feet  E.  of  Jones  Creek  ; in  rear  of  house  of  P.  Hinds.  The  lati- 
tude of  this  monument,  as  deduced  from  the  astronomical  observa- 
tions at  Station  Little  Meadows  in  1879,  is  41°  59'  59’.93.  This 
monument  is  near  the  site  of  the  Second  Latitude  Stone  which 
disappeared  many  years  ago.  Aug.  7,  1882. 

A small  monument  is  set  in  the  meridian  of  Astronomical  Station 
Little  Meadows,  1760±  feet  North  of  Milestone  39£,  in  the  south 
side  of  a rail  fence  N.  78°  45'  W.  (true)  34*  ft.  from  a leaning 
Maple.  Sept.  12,  1883. 

Milestone  40  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  in  the 
north-east  corner  of  a piece  of  woods  just  west  of  the  summit  of  the 
north  end  of  the  high  ridge  west  of  Apalachin  Creek.  It  replaces 
the  original  milestone  and  marks  the  corner  of  the  Counties  of  Sus- 
quehanna and  Bradford,  Penn.  The  Latitude  and  Longitude  of 
Milestone  40  as  deduced  G-eodetically  by  the  New  York  State  Sur- 
vey are,  Lat.  41°  59'  55",  Long.  76°  08'  46".  July  29,  1882. 

Milestone  41  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a cove  in  the  north 
side  of  a ridge,  near  the  foot  of  the  steep  northerly  slope  at  the 
north-east  corner  of  a clearing  in  the  north  line  of  land  belonging  to 
Notewire.  Replaces  original  milestone.  July  31,  1882. 


230  [Senate 

Milestone  42  is  a small  monument  upon  level  ground,  north  of 
burnt  woods,  1150  East  of  the  summit  of  a ridge  and  about  1448 
feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  west  side  of  a 
road.  It  is  in  line  between  Milestones  41  and  43.  The  original 
milestone  was  found  upon  the  top  of  a stump  near  by.  August  1, 
18S2. 

Milestone  43  is  a highway  monument  standing  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Milford  and  Owego  Turnpike,  at  its  intersection  with  the 
Prince’s  Hollow  Road.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  August 
1,  18S2. 

Milestone  44  is  a highway  monument  standing  just  east  of  a road 
upon  a steep  easterly  slope,  120  feet  west  of  a brook.  Replaces  the 
original  milestone.  August  3,  1882. 

Milestone  45  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  westerly 
side  of  a road  upon  the  summit  of  a high  ridge  east  of  the  valley  of 
Babcock  Brook.  It  stands  135  feet  West  of  the  site  of  the  original 
milestone,  which  was  in  the  center  of  the  road.  Aug.  15,  1882. 

Milestone  46  is  a highway  monument  standing  close  beside  (west 
of)  the  wagon  track  of  a road,  just  south  of  a sluiceway.  It  replaces 
the  original  milestone  and  marks  the  corner  of  the  towns  of  Warren 
and  Windham  in  Bradford  County,  Penn.  Nov.  12,  1881. 

Milestone  47  is  a small  monument  standing  in  nearly  level 
ground,  about  660  feet  West  of  a highway  monument  standing  in 
the  west  side  of  the  highway,  north  of  Jere.  Waite’s  house.  Re- 
places a stone  set  in  place  of  the  original  milestone.  Nov.  12,  1881. 

Milestone  48  is  a small  monument  in  woods  near  west  edge  of  new 
clearing.  On  an  easterly  slope  about  175  feet  West  of  a brook ; 
2356  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  on  west  side  of  road  cross- 
ing the  line.  Replaces  original  milestone.  # Nov.  11,  1881. 

Milestone  49  is  a small  monument  in  thick  woods  at  the  north- 
westerly edge  of  the  nearly  level  summit  of  the  ridge  east  of  the 
Wappasening  Valley,  and  about  3020  feet  West  from  the  last  above- 
mentioned  highway  monument.  Replaces  the  original  milestone. 
Nov.  11,  1881. 

Milestone  50  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  south 
bounds  of  the  highway  which  follows  the  Boundary  east  from  Wap- 
pasening Creek ; near  the  point  at  which  it  turns  north-east.  Re- 
places the  original  milestone.  Nov.  11,  1881. 

Milestone  51  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  south  edge  of 
thick  woods,  2000  feet  East  of  the  summit  of  the  high  ridge  west  of 
Wappasening  Creek.  Replaces  original  milestone.  Nov.  11,  1881. 

Milestone  52  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  stand- 
ing about  half-way  up  the  low  bluff,  east  side  of  Little  Wappasen- 
ing Creek,  and  6795  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  on  west  side 
of  the  Creek  Road.  It  replaces  the  original  milestone  and  marks 
the  Corner  of  the  towns  of  Windham  and  Litchfield,  Bradford 
County,  Penn.  Nov.  10,  1881. 

Milestone  53  is  a small  monument  under  a stump  fence,  in  cleared 
land  upon  high  ground  which  is  nearly  level,  north-west  of  the  west 


No.  71.] 


231 


branch  of  the  Little  Wappasening  Creek,  3302  feet  E.  of  a highway 
monument  at  the  East  end  of  State  Line  Road.  Replaces  original 
milestone.  Nov.  10,  1881. 

Milestone  51  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  south 
bounds  of  the  State  Line  Road  at  the  N.  E.  corner  of  C.  Ellis’  farm, 
about  610  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  west 
end  of  the  State  Line  road.  Replaces  a stone  set  in  place  of  the 
original  milestone.  Nov.  10,  1881. 

Milestone  55  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a southerly  slope 
a short  distance  south  of  a barn  and  about  100  feet  East  of  the  point 
at  which  a short  piece  of  road  along  the  Boundary,  turns  toward  the 
north-east.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Nov.  5,  1881. 

A small  monument  stands  one-half  mile  West  of  Milestone  55  upon 
the  high  summit  overlooking  the  Susquehanna  V alley.  Aug.  18, 1882. 

Milestone  56  is  a small  monument  near  the  center  of  a road  which 
follows  the  Boundary.  It  is  set  with  its  top  flush  with  the  surface 
of  the  ground,  about  1090  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  stand- 
ing in  front  of  the  cemetery  on  the  River  Road.  The  original  monu- 
ment was  not  found.  Nov.  4,  1881. 

A small  monument  stands  on  the  River  flat  about  30  feet  East  of 
the  left  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  River.  This  monument  replaces 
a boulder  which  was  set  over  40  years  ago  to  mark  the  line.  Nov. 
4,  1881. 

A small  monument  stands  on  the  River  flat  50  feet  West  of  the 
right  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  River.  Nov.  4,  1881. 

The  last  four  monuments  are  in  line  between  Milestones  55  and  57. 

Milestone  57  is  a small  monument  standing  in  cleared  land,  roll- 
ing ground,  about  2175  feet  West  of  the  right  bank  of  the  Susque- 
hanna River,  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Nov.  4,  1881. 

Milestone  58  stands  upon  the  steep  west  slope  of  a narrow  gravel 
ridge,  about  1550  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  on 
the  South-east  side  of  a road.  This  milestone  was  set  in  an  easterly 
prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from  Milestone  59  over  a rough  stone 
monument  with  a cross  upon  its  top,  165  feet  West  of  Milestone  58, 
marking  the  corner  of  subdivisions  of  the  Douglass  Military  Latent. 
The  original  milestone  had  disappeared.  Nov.  2,  1881. 

Milestone  59  is  in  an  open  cultivated  field,  about  100  ft.  north  of 
the  high  embankment  of  the  D.,  L.  & W.  R.  R.,  and  about  70  ft. 
East  of  the  G.  I.  & S.  R.  R.  Replaces  the  original  milestone. 
Sept.  15,  1883. 

Milestone  60  is  a small  monument  standing  in  the  rear  end  of  a gar- 
den which  fronts  north  on  Railroad  Avenue  in  the  village  of  Waverly ; 
about  210  feet  East  of  Fulton  st.  The  original  milestone  had  been 
dug  up  and  removed.  The  latitude  of  Milestone  60  as  deduced 
from  the  astronomical  observations  at  Station  Waverly  in  1879,  is 
12°  00'  00". 71.  Station  Waverty  is  8608  feet  East  and  l96  feet 
South  of  this  milestone.  Oct.  31,  1881. 

A highway  monument  was  set  upon  the  summit  of  the  narrow 


232 


[Senate 


ridge  extending  northerly  from  the  Spanish  Hills,  15  feet  East  of  the 
original  Spanish  Hills  monument  at  60|  miles,  which  was  left  stand- 
ing m place,  about  75  feet  south  of  the  Delaware,  L.  & W.  R.  R. 
Sept.  15,  1883. 

The  last  two  monuments  are  set  in  a curved  line  having  the  nor- 
mal curvature  of  the  parallel,  drawn  from  Milestone  59  to  the  orig- 
inal Spanish  Hills  monument. 

Milestone  60J  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  the  river  flats, 
about  50  feet  South  of  the  high  embankment  of  the  D.,  L.  & W. 
R.  R.,  at  the  east  end  of  the  River  bridge  and  about  25  feet  East  of 
the  left  bank  of  the  Chemung  River.  Replaces  the  base  of  the 
original  Third  Latitude  Stone.  Oct.  27,  1881. 

Chemung  County,  N.  Y. 

Milestone  61  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  the  right  oank 
of  the  Chemung  River  in  the  foot  of  the  slope  of  a high  railroad 
embankment;  132  feet  East  in  line  toward  the  Spanish  Hills  monu- 
ment from  the  original  milestone,  which  is  buried  in  the  embank- 
ment. It  is  21l  ft.  South  of  the  west  abutment  of  the  D.,  L.  & W. 
R.  R.  bridge,  and  in  line  with  the  face  of  the  abutment  above  the 
bridge-seat.  Oct.  27,  1881. 

Milestone  62  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  level  ground 
north  side  of  a thick  growth  of  bushes,  and  2335  feet  East  of  a 
highway  monument  standing  on  the  west  side  of  the  Chemung  River 
road.  It  replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct.  28,  1881. 

A small  monument  stands  upon  the  river  flat  upon  the  right  bank 
of  the  second  intersection  of  the  Chemung  River.  Oct.  28,  1881. 

Milestone  63  is  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  east  side  of 
a private  road,  south  of  Wynkoop  Creek,  about  950  feet  West  of 
the  left  bank  of  the  Chemung  River.  The  original  milestone  had 
been  pulled  up  and  moved  about.  Nov.  1,  1881. 

Milestone  64  is  a small  monument  standing  south  side  of  a stone 
wall,  about  704  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  west  side 
of  the  road  upon  a high  bluff  overlooking  the  Chemung  River.  The 
original  milestone  was  found  upon  the  top  of  a stone  Avail.  Nov.  1, 
1881. 

The  last  three  monuments  are  in  line  between  Milestones  62 
and  65. 

Milestone  65  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  standing 
in  level  cultivated  land  one-fourth  mile  West  of  a highway  monu- 
ment in  the  south-westerly  side  of  the  River  road.  It  replaces  the 
original  milestone,  and  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Athens 
and  Ridgebury,  Bradford  County,  Pennsylvania.  Oct.  28,  1881. 

Milestone  66  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  woods  upon 
a steep  north-easterly  slope,  396  feet  East  of  the  north-east  corner  of 
the  small  clearing  east  of  the  summit.  Replaces  the  original  mile- 
stone. Aug.  29,  1S82. 

Milestone  67  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  woods  upon 


No.  71.] 


233 


a northwesterly  slope,  about  250  feet  West  of  a wood  road  and  about 
340  feet  East  of  a brook  in  a deep  ravine.  Replaces  the  original  mile- 
stone. Aug.  30,  1882. 

Milestone  68  is  a small  monument  in  the  edge  of  thick  woods  in 
the  north-east  corner  of  a bush  lot,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
farm  of  Raynor,  about  200  feet  W est  of  the  summit  of  the  ridge. 
Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Aug.  28,  1882.  * 

Milestone  69  is  a small  monument  in  thick  woods  on  a steep 
north-easterly  slope,  about  635  feet  West  of  a brook  in  a deep  ravine. 
Replaces  the  original  milestone  which  was  reset  at  the  west  side  of 
the  new  monument.  Aug.  28,  1882. 

A highway  monument,  standing  on  the  east  side  of  the  Bentley 
Creek  road  South  of  the  village  of  Wellsburg,  is  44133  feet  North 
and  402  feet  West  of  the  center  of  Astronomical  Station  Burt.  The 
Latitude  of  this  monument  as  deduced  from  the  observations  at  Sta- 
tion Burt  is  42°  00'  07".  95.  Aug.  25,  1882. 

A small  monument  was  placed  in  the  meridian  of  Station  Burt 
1779  feet  South  of  the  Station,  north  side  of  a stump  fence  ; on  the 
land  of  Mrs.  Jerusha  Gray.  April  21,  1884. 

Milestone  70  is  a small  monument  standing  in  an  open  held, 
cleared,  high  lip  on  the  west  slope  of  the  valley  of  Bentley  Creek, 
279  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  on  the  west  side  of  the  road 
near  the  summit.  This  milestone  is  set  in  line  between  Milestones 
69  and  71.  The  original  milestone  was  never  found.  Aug.  25, 1882. 

Milestone  71  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a root  fence  close 
beside  a small  hickory  tree,  in  cleared  land,  1175  feet  West  of  a 
highway  monument  standing  at  the  east  side  of  the  west  intersection 
of  the  telegraph-road.  Replaces  the  original  milestone,  which  was 
reset  at  the  west  side  of  the  new  monument.  Aug.  26,  1882. 

Milestone  72  is  a small  monument  in  a gap  in  a stone  wall,  south 
side  of  a piece  of  woods,  north  side  of  a lane  on  a steep  northwest- 
erly slope,  about  400  feet  W est  of  the  summit  of  the  ridge  east  of 
South  Creek.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Sept.  2,  1882. 

Milestone  73  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  east  edge  of  the 
summit  of  the  high  steep  ridge  west  of  South  Creek  valley,  1650 
feet  West  of  the  Creek.  Replaces  the  original  monument.  Sept. 
4,  1882. 

Milestone  74  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a narrow  clay 
swamp  in  a deep  valley,  a few  feet  west  of  the  bed  of  a brook.  Re- 
places the  original  milestone.  It  is  about  1180  feet  East  of  the 
East  end  of  the  State  Line  Road  on  the  summit  of  the  Ridge.  Sept. 
4,  1882. 

Milestone  75  is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  left  bank 
of  a ravine,  at  the  north  side  of  a road  which  follows  the  line  ; 33 
feet  West  of  the  original  milestone,  which  was  left  in  place  in  the 
bottom  of  the  ravine  close  to  the  north  side  of  the  road  embankment. 
The  original  milestone  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  South 
Creek  and  Wells,  Bradford  County,  Penn.  Milestone  75  is  the  most 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  30 


234 


[Senate 


northerly  monument  upon  the  Boundary.  Its  variation  from  the 
Astronomical  Parallel  of  42°  is  about  960  feet  North.  Sept.  9, 1882. 

Milestone  76  is  a small  monument  upon  a cleared  westerly  slope, 
about  700  feet  West  from  the  summit.  The  original  milestone  was 
not  found.  Sept.  13,  1882. 

Milestone  77  is  a small  monument  standing  in  the  bottom  of  Bird 
Creek  valley  2045  feet  West  of  a highway  monument  standing  in 
the  west  side  of  the  Creek  Road.  The  original  milestone  was  car- 
ried away  many  years  ago.  Sept.  12,  1882. 

Milestones  76  and  77  are  set  in  line  between  Milestones  75  and  78. 

Milestone  78  is  a small  monument  in  a hollow,  about  700  feet 
East  of  the  summit  of  the  high  ridge  East  of  Seely  Creek  valley. 
Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Sept.  7,  1882. 

Milestone  79  is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  a bank, 
above  the  south-westerly  side  of  a road  which  follows  up  a narrow 
ravine  westerly  from  State  Line  Station  on  the  Tioga  Railroad,  and 
about  450  feet  from  the-  latter.  Replaces  the  original  milestone. 
Sept.  7,  1882. 

Milestone  80  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  a narrow  swamp 
upon  the  south  side  of  a highway  laid  out  along  the  line  but  not 
worked,  and  about  1150  feet  West  of  the  end  of  a road  from  the 
south.  It  replaces  the  original  milestone  and  marks  the  corner  of 
the  Counties  of  Bradford  and  Tioga  in  Penn.  Sept.  8,  1882. 

Milestone  81  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  the  east  side  of 
the  narrow  summit  of  a high  ridge,  at  the  south-east  corner  of  a piece 
of  woods,  and  about  990  feet  West  of  a highway  monument  standing 
at  the  west  end  of  a road  on  the  Boundary.  Replaces  the  original 
milestone.  Sept.  6,  18S2. 

Milestone  82  is  a highway  monument  standing  East  of  the  wagon 
track  of  a road.  It  replaces  the  original  milestone  and  marks  the 
Corner  of  of  the  Counties  of  Chemung  and  Steuben  in  New  York. 
Sept.  18,  1883. 

Steuben  County,  N.  Y. 

Milestone  82  marks  the  south-east  corner  of  Steuben  County. 

Milestone  83  is  a small  monument  standing  north  of  the  fence,  in 
cleared  land  upon  the  summit  of  a low  ridge  which  crosses  the 
Boundary  quite  diagonally.  A small  fragment  of  the  original  mile- 
stone was  found  lying  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground  near  by.  Sept. 
16,  1882. 

Milestone  84  is  a small  monument  standing  in  the  open  cleared 
field  south  of  the  fence,  in  rear  (north)  of  a dwelling  house  and  about 
825  feet  East  of  the  point  at  which  a road  along  the  Boundary  turns 
toward  the  south-east.  The  original?  had  been  removed  from  its 
place.  Sept.  16,  1882. 

Milestone  85  is  a highway  monument  standing  just  south  of  the 
wagon  track  of  the  State  Line  road,  upon  the  north-easterly  side  of  a 
hollow,  about  350  feet  East  of  a brook.  The  original  was  dug  up  in 
working  the  road.  Sept.  18,  1882. 


No.  71.] 


235 


The  last  three  monuments  are  set  in  line  between  Milestones  82 
and  86. 

Milestone  86  is  a small  monument  standing  under  a stump  fence  at 
the  south  edge  of  thick  woods,  upon  a westerly  slope,  about  200  feet 
West  of  the  top.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Sept.  15,  1882. 

Milestone  87  is  a small  monument  standing  near  the  bottom  of  a 
bluff  at  the  east  side  of  a narrow  swamp,  2374  feet  East  of  a high- 
way monument  standing  upon  the  west  side  of  a road.  It  was  set  in 
line  between  Milestones  86  and  88.  The  original  milestone  was  not 
found.  Sept.  21,  1882 

Milestone  88  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  standing 
at  the  south-east  corner  of  a piece  of  woods.  It  replaces  the  original 
milestone,  and  marks  the  corner  of  the  towns  of  Caton  and  Lindley 
in  Steuben  County,  1ST.  Y.  23  Sept.  1882. 

Milestone  89  is  a small  monument  standing  at  a New  York  farm 
corner,  upon  a south-easterly  slope,  about  500  feet  East  of  the  sum- 
mit of  the  ridge  overlooking  the  Tioga  Valley.  Sept.  22,  1882. 

A small  monument  was  set  upon  the  river  flat  near  the  left  bank 
of  the  Tioga  River,  245  feet  West  of  a large  marked  oak  standing 
at  the  edge  of  the  channel.  This  monument  was  placed  in  an  east- 
erly prolongation  of  the  line  between  Milestones  90  and  91,  and  75 
feet  West  of  the  probable  position  of  the  original  Fourth  Latitude 
Stone,  which  was  washed  out  by  river  floods.  Sept.  23,  1882. 

Milestone  90  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  the  Tioga  River 
flats  at  the  east  side  of  the  original  milestone,  which  was  left  standing 
in  place.  It  is  about  1260  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  stand- 
ing near  the  west  side  of  Main  street  in  the  village  of  Lawrenceville. 
The  Latitude  of  this  milestone  as  deduced  from  the  astronomical 
observations  at  Station  Lawrenceville  in  1879,  is  42°  00'  01/7. 03.  The 
center  of  the  Station  is  845  feet  North  and  216  feet  West  of  the  new 
milestone.  Sept.  23,  18S2. 

A small  monument  was  set  upon  the  river  flats,  about  940  feet 
West  of  Main  street,  Lawrenceville,  and  about  200  feet  East  of  the 
channel  of  the  Cowanesqua  River.  Sept.  29,  1882. 

Milestone  91  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods  on  a 
steep  southerly  slope,  about  250  feet  West  of  the  crest  of  the  ridge 
and  about  250  feet  South  of  a clearing  upon  the  summit.  Replaces 
the  original  milestone.  Sept.  27,  1882. 

Milestone  92  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  woods  upon  a 
gentle  westerly  slope,  125  feet  West  of  the  south-west  corner  of  a 
clearing.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Sept.  25,  1882. 

Milestone  93  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  edge  of  thick 
bushy  woods  south  side  of  road  along  the  line,  near  the  top  of  aslope 
toward  the  west.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Sept.  25,  1882. 

Milestone  94  is  a highway  monument  standing  north  of  the  wagon- 
track  of  the  State  Line  road,  about  276  feet  East  of  the  summit 
of  a ridge.  It  replaces  the  original  milestone,  which  was  reset  at  the 
east  side  of  the  new  monument.  It  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns 


236  [Senate 

of  Lindley  and  Tuscarora  in  Steuben  County,  New  York.  Sept. 
26,  1882. 

Milestone  95  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  north  line  of 
the  State  Line  road  just  east  of  the  south-east  corner  of  a pine  grove, 
203  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  east  side  of  the 
road  leading  north-east  from  the  village  of  Nelson.  This  milestone 
was  placed  in  line  with  Milestones  93  and  94-.  The  original  milestone 
was  not  found.  Oct.  4-,  1882.  . 

Milestone  96  is  a small  monument  standing  at  a Pennsylvania  farm 
corner,  south  side  of  a piece  of  woods  on  a gentle  slope  west  not  far 
from  the  top,  and  1354:  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing- 
in  the  west  side  of  the  highway  leading  north  from  the  village  of 
Nelson.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct.  2,  1882. 

Milestone  97  is  a small  monument  in  a clay  swamp  in  the  bottom 
of  a deep  valley,  about  525  feet  West  of  a road  and  230  feet  west  of 
a brook.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct.  11,  1882. 

Milestone  98  is  a small  monument  standing  near  the  east  side  of  a 
narrow  clearing  upon  a gentle  slope  south-east  overlooking  the  Cow- 
anesqua  Valley ; 69  feet  West  of  the  south-east  corner  of  Lot  139  in 
Tuscarora.  It  is  set  in  line  between  Milestones  97  and  99.  The 
original  milestone  had  been  pulled  up  and  broken  in  pieces.  Oct. 
3,  1882. 

Milestone  99  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a steep  westerly 
slope  about  30  feet  West  of  the  west  edge  of  woods;  1521  feet  East 
of  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  west  side  of  the  Addison 
Road.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Sept.  30,  1882. 

Milestone  100  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  stand- 
ing in  the  north  edge  of  the  channel  of  a brook  1609  feet  East  of 
a highway  monument  standing  at  the  south-westerly  side  of  the  road 
leading  north  from  the  village  of  Elkland.  This  milestone  marks 
the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Tuscarora  and  Woodhull  in  Steuben 
County,  New  York,  and  is  set  in  line  between  Milestones  99  and 
101.  The  original  milestone  had  been  washed  out  by  floods,  and 
was  found  in  the  village  of  Elkland.  Oct.  5,  1882. 

Milestone  101  is  a small  monument  in  cleared  land,  south  side  of 
an  orchard,  2214  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  at  the 
east  side  of  the  road  from  Osceola  to  Addison.  Replaces  the  orig- 
inal milestone.  Oct.  9,  1882. 

Milestone  102  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  stand- 
ing in  a thick  growth  of  saplings  on  level  ground,  about  150  feet 
East  of  a clearing,  about  900  feet  W est  of  the  summit  of  a high  ridge. 
This  milestone  is  placed  in  line  between  Milestones  101  and  103, 
and  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Osceola  and  Deerfield  in 
Tioga  County,  Penn.  The  origina"1  milestone  was  not  found.  Oct. 
9,  1882. 

Milestone  103  is  a small  monument  in  cleared  land  at  the  foot  of 
a steep  westerly  slope,  24:0  feet  East  of  a brook  running  south 
through  a piece  of  woods.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct. 
6,  1882. 


No.  71.] 


237 


Milestone  104:  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a springy  spot  on 
an  easterly  slope,  568s  feet  West  of  a highway  monument  standing 
in  the  east  side  of  the  Holden  Creek  road.  Replaces  the  original 
monument.  Oct.  6,  1882. 

Milestone  105  is  a small  monument  standing  in  edge  of  thick  bushy 
woods  upon  the  north-east  side  of  the  summit  of  a high  steep  ridge. 
Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct.  10,  1882. 

Milestone  106  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a wilderness  of 
bushes  and  dead  trees,  N.  51°  W.  215  feet  from  a living  hemlock 
tree,  24:"  diameter;  about  475  feet  West  of  a rough  road  through 
the  woods.  Replaces  the  original  monument.  Oct.  10,  1882. 

A small  monument  was  placed  upon  the  summit  of  a high  ridge, 
11033  feet  West  of  Milestone  106,  overlooking  the  Boundary  over 
20  miles  toward  the  east.  Oct.  14,  1882. 

Milestone  107  is  a small  monument  standing  in  partially  cleared 
land  about  50  feet  South  of  the  south  edge  of  cultivated  land  and 
10461  feet  East  of  the  South-west  corner  of  the  Town  of  Wood- 
hull.  A fragment  of  the  original  milestone  was  found  lying  loosely 
upon  the  surface  of  the  ground.  Oct.  16,  1882. 

A highway  monument  was  set  at  the  east  end  of  a road  laid  out 
upon  the  State  Line,  165  feet  East  of  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of 
Woodhull  and  Troupsburg,  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.  Sept.  19, 1883. 

The  last  three  monuments  were  set  in  line  between  Milestones 
106  and  108. 

Milestone  108  is  a small  monument  near  the  south-west  corner  of 
burnt  woods  upon  a steep  southerly  slope,  1061  feet  West  of  a high- 
way monument  standing  near  the  west  end  of  a road  laid  out  along 
the  Line.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct.  13,  1882. 

Milestone  109  is  a small  monument  standing  in  cleared  land  at  the 
west  edge  of  the  summit  of  a gravel  bluff  north  of  Troup’s  Creek 
at  the  village  of  Austinburg,  978  feet  West  of  a highway  monu- 
ment standing  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Austinburg 
to  Addison.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct.  13,  1882. 

A highway  monument  is  set  in  the  south-westerly  side  of  the 
Troup’s  Creek  Road,  76  72  feet  West  of  the  probable  original  posi- 
tion of  the  Fifth  Latitude  Stone  (now  in  the  channel  of  Troup’s 
Creek)  in  line  between  that  point  and  Milestone  110.  The  latitude 
of  this  monument  as  deduced  from  the  Astronomical  observations  at 
Station  Austinburg  is  42°  00'  01  ".38.  The  center  of  the  Station  is 
126  feet  West  and  32  feet  South  from  the  center  of  this  monu- 
ment. Oct.  18,  1882. 

Milestone  110  is  a small  monument  standing  on  the  southerly 
slope  between  two  small  knolls,  spurs  of  the  main  bluff,  2141  feet 
West  of  the  highway  monument  above  described.  Replaces  the 
original  milestone.  Oct.  13,  1882. 

Milestone  111  is  a small  monument  standing  near  the  foot  of  a 
northerly  slope  of  a high  ridge  bounding  a semi-circular  cove  on  the 
South,  251  feet  East  of  the  corner  of  lots  100  and  101  in  the  Town 


238  [Senate 

of  Troupsburg,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  line  between  Milestones  110 
and  112.  The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  Oct.  18, 1882. 

Milestone  112  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  south  edge  of 
open  woods,  at  the  north-east  corner  of  a hickory  grove,  on  nearly 
level  land.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct.  13,  1882. 

Milestone  113  is  a small  monument  standing  in  the  north  edge  of 
thick  woods  on  a little  knoll  just  south  of  a swampy  brook,  about 
174  feet  West  of  the  south-west  corner  of  Lot  97  of  the  Town  of 
Troupsburg,  N.  Y.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct.  20, 1882. 

Milestone  114  is  a small  monument  standing  near  the  top  of  a 
south-easterly  slope,  about  56  feet  West  of  the  corner  of  Lots  94  and 
95  in  the  Town  of  Troupsburg,  and  15285  feet  East  of  a highway 
monument  standing  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  leading  north  from 
Brookfield  P.  O.  Replaces  the  old  milestone.  Oct.  20,  1882. 

Milestone  115  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  stand- 
ing on  a steep  north-westerly  slope,  about  100  feet  below  the  brow. 
It  replaces  the  original  milestone  and  marks  the  corner  of  the 
Counties  of  Tioga  and  Potter  in  Pennsylvania.  Oct.  19,  1882. 

Milestone  116  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a steep  westerly 
slope  among  upturned  roots  and  fallen  trees,  about  500  feet  East  of  a 
highway  monument  standing  upon  the  west  side  of  the  road  up  the 
valley  of  the  North  Fork  oJ  the  Cowanesqua  River.  This  milestone 
was  set  in  an  easterly  prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from  Milestone 
117  through  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Troupsburg  and  West 
Union  in  Steuben  County,  at  a point  2S  chains  60  links  from  this 
corner.  This  is  the  distance  of  the  Township  Corner  from  the 
milestone,  given  in  the  records  of  the  surveys  of  the  Phelps  and 
Gorham  Purchase.  The  original  milestone  had  been  pulled  up  and 
removed  from  its  place.  Oct.  21,  1882. 

A small  monument  was  set  at  the  Township  Corner  above  referred 
to,  replacing  an  old  stake  and  stones.  Oct.  25,  1882. 

Milestone  117  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a south-westerly 
slope  in  open  woods,  a short  distance  north-easterly  from  the  west 
branch  of  the  North  Fork  of  the  Cowanesqua  River,  about  200  feet 
east  of  a wood  road  and  about  1301  feet  East  of  highway  monument 
standing  upon  the  east  side  of  a road  opened  and  worked  north  of 
the  Line.  Oct.  24,  1882. 

Milestone  118  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods  upon 
a steep  northerly  slope  about  25  feet  from  the  top,  near  the  broken 
stub  of  a huge  hemlock,  and  about  400  feet  East  of  the  north-east 
corner  of  a new  clearing.  It  is  set  in  line  between  Milestones  117 
and  119.  The  original  milestone  was  found  lying  loosely  upon  the 
surface  of  the  ground.  Oct.  24,  1882. 

Milestone  119  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  south  side  of 
a garden,  among  a few  small  scattering  maples,  about  70  feet  South- 
west of  a dwelling,  and  17475  feet  West  of  a highway  monument 
on  the  west  side  of  the  road  north  of  White’s  Corners.  It  replaces 
the  original  milestone.  Oct.  23,  1882. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  was  set  at  the  south- 


239 


.No.  71.] 

east  corner  of  the  Ellice  Tract  (the  center  line  of  Township  1 of 
Range  6 of  the  Phelps  & Gorham  Purchase) ; close  to  the  west  side 
of  an  oak  stump,  4 feet  in  diameter;  125  37  ft.  West  of  Milestone 
119  in  line  toward  Milestone  120.  Oct.  3,  1883. 

Milestone  120  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a short  easterly 
slope,  near  the  foot,  north  side  of  an  open  grove  of  beech  and 
maple,  and  about  147  feet  West  of  the  south-west  corner  of  Lot  8 of 
the  Ellice  Tract.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Oct.  23,  1882. 

Milestone  121  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  stand- 
ing upon  level  cleared  land  on  summit  west  of  Rose  llrook  valley ; 
25384feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  west  side 
of  a road.  It  replaces  the  original  milestone,  and  marks  the  corner 
of  the  towns  of  Harrison  and  Bingham  in  Potter  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. The  original  milestone  was  set  at  the  west  side  of  the  new 
monument.  Sept.  28,  1883. 

Milestone  122  is  a small  monument  in  cleared  land  north  side  of 
a pole  fence  lined  with  briars,  and  about  12  feet  East  of  the  east  end 
of  a board  fence,  east  of  a shallow  ravine.  Replaces  the  original 
milestone.  Sept.  28,  1883. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  was  set  in  line  between 
Milestones  122  and  124  to  mark  the  Corner  of  the  Counties  of 
Steuben  and  Allegany,  N.  York.  It  is  upon  level  ground  a short 
distance  west  of  a low  bluff  sloping  east,  and  was  set  6996  feet 
West  (the  distance  given  in  the  records  of  the  Surveys  of  the  Phelps 
and  Gorham  Purchase)  from  Milestone  122.  Sept.  28,  1883. 

Allegany  County,  N.  Y. 

Milestone  123  is  a small  monument  standing  in  cleared  land  upon 
a gentle  westerly  slope,  473  feet  West  of  a highway  monument 
standing  upon  the  west  side  of  the  road  south  of  the  village  of 
Spring  Mills,  N.  Y.  It  is  set  in  line  between  Milestones  122  and 
124.  The  original  milestone  had  been  pulled  up  and  moved  about. 
It  was  reset  at  the  west  side  of  the  new  one.  Oct.  2,  1883. 

Milestone  124  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a gap  in  a stone 
wall  in  a narrow  clearing  upon  a high  summit  south-west  of  the  Vil- 
lage of  Spring  Mills.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  Sept.  26, 1883. 

Milestone  125  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a south-westerly 
slope,  N.  side  of  cultivated  land,  North  of  the  dwelling  of  M.  D. 
Briggs.  Replaces  the  original  milestone  which  was  reset  at  the 
west  side  of  the  new  monument.  The  latter  was  mutilated,  soon 
after  it  was  set,  by  some  malicious  person,  who  evidently  undertook 
to  break  it  in  pieces.  Sept.  27,  1883. 

Milestone  126  is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  south 
side  of  a road  which  follows  the  line  for  about  one-half  mile,  opposite 
the  north-west  corner  of  a barn  belonging  to  Theodore  Potter. 
The  original  milestone  having  been  removed  in  working  the  road, 
the  new  milestone  was  set  in  a westward  prolongation  of  the  line 
between  Milestones  124  and  125.  4 Oct.,  1883. 


2’40 


[Senate 


Milestone  127  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  stand- 
ing upon  the  steep  north-westerly  slope  south  of  the  valley  of 
Cryder  Creek,  in  thick  woods,  in  the  west  side  of  a narrow  windfall, 
15  feet  north-west  of  a huge  upturned  hemlock  root ; about  660  feet 
west  of  the  brow  of  the  slope.  It  replaces  the  original  milestone 
and  marks  the  corner  of  the  towns  of  Bingham  and  Genesee, 
Potter  County,  Penn.  5 Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  128  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  south-easterly 
corner  of  a partial  clearing,  upon  a south-easterly  slope  of  a gravel 
ridge  east  of  the  Genesee  River ; 280  feet  west  of  a small  brook, 
and  5257  feet  West  of  a highway  monument  standing  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Cryder  Creek  road.  Replaces  the  original  monument. 
11  Oct.,  1883. 

A highway  monument  standing  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  stage 
road  south  of  the  village  of  Shongo,  is  539  feet  South  and  744feet 
East  from  the  center  of  Astronomical  Station  Genesee  Yalley.  The 
latitude  of  this  monument  as  deduced  from  the  observations  at  the 
Station  in  1879  is  41°  59'  57".76.  11  Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  129  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a steep  north- 
easterly slope  covered  with  a wilderness  of  briars,  fallen  logs,  tree 
tops  and  burnt  timber,  11 803  feet  west  of  the  highway  monument 
above  described.  It  is  a little  south-west  of  a clump  of  green  beeches 
and  maples,  and  replaces  the  original  monument.  8 Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  130  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a short 
northerly  slope,  surrounded  by  briars  and  fallen  logs,  about  150  feet 
south-east  of  a brook.  It  is  275  feet  west  of  Bryan  McGinnis’s 
south-west  corner  and  690  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  stand- 
ing on  the  north-westerly  side  of  the  Irish  Settlement  road. 
Replaces  the  original  milestone,  which  was  reset  at  the  west  side  of 
the  new  milestone.  10  Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  131  is  a small  monument  standing  in  cultivated  ground 
north  side  of  tangled  woods  on  a southerly  slope.  The  original 
milestone  was  not  found.  The  new  milestone  was  placed  in  an 
easterly  prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from  Milestone  132  through 
the  stump  of  an  original  u Line  Tree  ” standing  beside  a road  1712 
feet  West  of  131.  13  Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  132  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a small  depression 
in  open  woods,  about  75  feet  South  of  a wood  road,  a short  distance 
east  of  the  east  side  of  a clearing  and  770  feet  West  of  Ore  Bed 
Creek.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  17  Oct.,  1883. 

A highway  monument  in  the  road  on  the  second  summit  west  of 
Milestone  132,  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Willing  and  Alma, 
Allegany  Co.,  H.  Y.  16  Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  133  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a steep  westerly 
slope,  4268  feet  east  of  a highway  monument  upon  the  east  side  of 
a road  in  the  bottom  of  the  valley.  It  marks  the  Corner  of  the 
Towns  of  Genesee  and  Oswayo  in  Potter  County,  Pennsylvania. 
The  original  milestone  had  been  plowed  up  and  removed.  16  Oct., 
1883. 


No.  71.] 


241 


The  last  two  monuments  were  set  in  line  between  Milestones  132 
and  134. 

Milestone  134  is  a small  monument,  standing  upon  the  level 
top  of  a knoll  between  two  shallow  ravines  of  Redwater  Creek, 
350 ± ft.  West  of  a highway  monument  standing  on  the  w^est  side 
of  the  Wells ville  and  Coudersport  Turnpike.  Replaces  the  original 
milestone  which  was  reset  upon  the  west  side  of  the  new  monument. 
15  Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  135  is  a small  monument  standing  on  a gentle  north- 
westerly slope  in  thick  open  woods.  The  timber  immediately  sur- 
rounding the  milestone  is  mostly  hard-wood.  Replaces  the  original 
milestone.  15  Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  136  is  a small  monument  in  thick  open  woods  on  a 
steep  north-westerly  slope,  close  beside  a large  beech  stump,  950  feet 
East  of  a brook  in  a deep  ravine.  Replaces  the  original  milestone. 

19  Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  136f  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  west  edge  of 
the  original  Sixth  Latitude  Stone,  which  was  left  standing  in  place. 
In  thick  woods  upon  a steep  north-easterly  slope,  about  480  feet  W est 
of  the  south  branch  of  Crandall  Creek.  This  monument  was  erro- 
neously marked  by  the  stone-cutter  “ 136|-  M.”  19  Oct.,  1S83. 

Milestone  137  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods,  upon 
a north-easterly  slope,  about  50  feet  from  the  foot  of  a steep  pitch  ; 
about  600  feet  East  of  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  Replaces  the 
original  monument.  19  Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  138  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  hemlock 
woods,  on  a steep  westerly  slope,  about  250  feet  West  of  the  sum- 
mit of  the  ridge,  75  feet  east  of  an  abandoned  road,  and  about  1173 
feet  West  of  a highway  monument  standing  on  the  west  side  of  the 
road  south  from  Alina  P.  O.  Replaces  the  original  milestone 

20  Oct.,  1883. 

A small  monument  marked  on  the  top  with  a A\  stands  at  the 
south  side  of  the  monument  wThich  was  s§t  in  1798  to  mark  the 
south-east  corner  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase.  The 
north  edge  of  the  new  monument  indicates  the  Line.  Upon  a steep 
north-easterly  slope,  about  600  feet  West  of  a deep  ravine.  This 
monument  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Alma  and  Bolivar  in 
Allegany  County,  N.  Y.  23  Oct.,  1883. 

v Milestone  139  is  a small  monument  upon  a steep  northerly  slope 
in  thick  hemlock  woods  near  the  north-east  corner  of  a slashing ; 
directly  south  of  the  residence  of  S.  C.  Stratton,  1148a  feet  West  of 
the  preceding  monument.  The  original  monument  was  not  found. 
The  new  milestone  was  placed  in  a westward  prolongation  of  the  line 
joining  the  two  preceding  monuments.  23  Oct.,  1883. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  marks  the  Corner  of  the 
Towns  of  Oswayo  and  Sharon  in  Potter  County,  Penn.  It  is  in  the 
South  edge  of  partially  cleared  (pasture)  land,  north  of  a rough  road 
which  follows  the  line  ; on  a steep  fiortherly  slope  27104  ft.  West  of 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  31 


242 


[Senate 


Milestone  139  ; 882  feet  west  of  a brook  in  a deep  ravine,  and  about 
614  feet  East  of  the  South-west  corner  of  Section  1,  Township  1, 
Range  1,  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase.  This  monu- 
ment was  set  in  line  between  Milestones  139  and  140  at  the  point 
indicated  by  the  stake  set  for  the  town  line,  by  request  of  the 
County  Commissioners.  16  May,  1884. 

Milestone  140  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  woods  in 
swampy  ground,  at  the  foot  of  a steep  northerly  slope,  south  of 
Honeoye  Creek.  Replaces  an  old  stake  identified  as  the  corner  of 
two  Pennsylvania  Land  Districts,  which  was  originally  marked  by 
Milestone  140,  which  was  not  founrh  7895  fpp.t  Wpst,  nf  a Lio-W^v 


house.  16  May,  1884. 

A small  monument  is  set  upon  the  south-east  edge  of  the  Honeoye 
flats  at  the  N.  W.  side  of  a flood- water  channel  of  the  Creek,  in  line 
between  Milestones  140  and  141,  1485  feet  East  of  Milestone  141. 
17  May,  1884. 

Milestone  141  is  a small  monument  in  the  edge  of  wet  ground 
upon  the  Honeoye  flats,  180  feet  West  of  a lane  leading  to  an  aban- 
doned saw-mill,  and  11483  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  stand- 
ing on  the  south-east  side  of  the  stage-road.  The  original  milestone 
has  never  been  known.  The  new  monument  was  set  in  an  easterly 
prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from  Milestone  144  through  an  authen- 
tic New  York  Section  Corner,  west  of  141.  16  May,  1884. 

Milestone  142  is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  a bluff,  west 
side  of  a road  leading  northerly  from  Goldsmith’s  Corners.  The 
original  milestone  had  been  dug  up  in  working  the  road  and  broken 
in  pieces.  17  Majq  1884. 

Milestone  143  is  a small  monument,  standing  upon  a very  steep 
southerly  slope,  upon  the  north-easterly  side  of  a high  rocky  peak, 
east  of  Horse  Run  valley,  surrounded  by  briars,  logs,  and  dead 
bushes;  173  feet  West  of  a white  oak  35  inches  in  diameter,  and 
about  due  north  from  East  Sharon  school-house.  The  original  mile- 
stone was  found  lying  bn  the  slope  near  the  point  at  which  the 
new  milestone  was  set.  17  May,  1884. 

Milestones  142  and  143  were  set  in  line  between  Milestones  14 L 
and  144. 

Milestone  144  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  north  line 
of  the  road  which  follows  the  line  across  Horse  Run  valley  bottom, 
370  feet  West  of  where  the  Run  crosses  the  road.  Replaces  the 
original  milestone.  27  Oct.,  1883. 

Milestone  145  is  a small  monument,  standing  in  a quick  growth 
of  saplings  upon  a steep  south-westerly  slope,  surrounded  by  dead 
stubs  and  fallen  trees ; 271  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  on 
the  east  side  of  a road  east  side  of  Coon  Brook  valley.  Replaces 
the  original  milestone.  15  May,  1884. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  marks  the  Corner  of  the 
Counties  of  Potter  and  McKean  in  Pennsylvania.  It  stands  in 


monument  standing  on  the  west 


No.  71.] 


243 


thick  woods  53  feet  North  of  the  north  side  of  a large  pine  stunpp 
which  has  always  been  known  as  marking  the  County  Corner  ; on  a 
steep  north-westerly  slope  a short  distance  below  the  brow.  It 
is  3592®  feet  West  of  Milestone  145,  and  9136  feet  West  of  the  North- 
east Corner  of  Penn.,  Warrant  No.  4330.  19  May,  1884. 

Milestone  146  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  woods  upon 
a steep  westerly  slope  575  feet  East  of  a brook  in  the  bottom  of  a 
deep  valley.  The  original  milestone  had  been  pulled  up  and  left 
lying  beside  a hemlock  tree  near  by.  19  Ma}r,  1884. 

Milestone  147  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  'woods  on  a 
gentle  southerly  slope  just  west  of  a small  spring  brook  and  96  feet 
South  of  a huge  Pine  stump ; about  a quarter  of  a mile  east  of  the 
brow  of  a north-westerly  slope  toward  the  Little  Genesee  Creek. 
The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  21  May,  18S4. 

A monument  of  ordinary  stone  marks  the  Corner  of  Sections  25 
and  33  in  Township  1 of  Range  2 of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s 
Purchase  (N.  Y.).  It  stands  in  the  open  field  upon  bottom  land 
about  530  feet  west  of  the  Little  Genesee  Creek.  The  top,  marked 
“ L 25  ” and  “ L 33  ”,  has  been  broken  off,  but  lies  beside  it. 

The  last  four  monuments  are  in  line  between  Milestones  145  and 
14S. 

Milestone  148  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods  upon 
flat  wet  ground  north-east  of  the  Oswayo  River ; 36  feet  North-west 
from  a white  pine,  24  inches  in  diameter.  The  original  milestone 
never  was  found.  The  new  monument  is  set  in  a westerly  prolonga- 
tion of  ajine  drawn  from  Milestone  145  through  the  Section  Corner 
above  described  and  14  chains  13  links  West  of  the  latter  point 
(14.10  Ch.  is  the  distance  to  the  148  mile  tree,  given  in  the  Records 
of  the  surveys  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase).  21 
May,  1884. 

Milestone  149  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  south  line 
of  Main  street  in  Ceres,  opposite  the  school-house,  and  105  feet  West 
of  the  north-west  corner  of  the  Cemetery.  It  is  106.9  feet  West  and 
5657  feet  South  from  the  center  of  Astronomical  Station  Ceres.  The 
latitude  of  the  milestone,  deduced  from  the  observations  at  this  Sta- 
tion, is  41°  59'  58". 66.  The  original  milestone  has  never  been  known. 
This  milestone  was  set  in  a line  drawn  from  148  through  a point  3 
feet  north  of  the  north  face  of  the  foundation  of  the  Church  in 
Ceres.  19  May,  1884. 

Milestone  150  is  a small  monument  standing  in  rough  wet  ground, 
in  a thick  growth  of  saplings  in  the  north  edge  of  thick  woods  upon 
the  Oswayo  flats,  about  midway  of  a narrow  clearing  north  of  the 
line,  about  275  feet  East  of  the  Corner  of  Sections  49  and  57  in 
Township  1,  Range  2,  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase 
(N.  Y.).  The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  The  new  milestone 
was  set  in  a easterly  prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from  Milestone  151 
through  an  elm  tree  marked  for  a Pennsylvania  Subdivision  Corner 
1387  feet  West  of  150.  21  May,  1884. 1 


244  [Senate 

A small  monument  was  set  upon  the  Oswayo  flats,  40  feet  West  of 
the  left  bank  of  the  River.  22  May,  1884. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  marks  the  Corner  of  the 
Counties  of  Allegany  and  Cattaraugus  in  New  York.  It  stands 
in  low  wet  ground,  among  scattered  trees,  about  1043  feet  East  of 
Milestone  151,  and  about  200  feet  east  of  a bayou  or  flood-water 
channel  of  the  Oswayo  River.  The  longitudinal  position  of  this 
monument  was  fixed  by  measurement  from  the  original  witness  trees 
indicated  in  the  records  of  Surveys  of  the  Holland  Land  Purchase. 
One  of  these  trees,  an  elm  (N.  E.),  is  still  vigorous.*  22  May,  1884. 

The  last  two  monuments  are  set  iu  line  between  Milestones  150 
and  151. 


Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y. 

Milestone  151  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods  about 
30  ft.  South-west  of  the  left  bank  of  the  Oswayo  River.  Replaces 
the  original  milestone.  22  May,  1884. 

Milestone  152  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  scattered 
woods,  just  west  of  a tract  of  burnt  timber.  Upon  a steep  northerly 
slope  at  the  easterly  side  of  a cove;  850  ft.  E.  of  the  summit  of  the 
high  ridge  between  the  valleys  of  the  Oswayo  and  the  Allegany. 
Replaces  the  original  milestone.  5 May,  1884. 

Milestone  153  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a narrow  dyke  be- 
tween the  Allegany  River  and  a slough  or  flood-water  channel,  a few 
feet  South-west  of  a boom  house,  and  36  ft.  West  of  a dead  hem- 
lock (an  old  line  tree)  standing  on  the  edge  of  the  left  baifk  of  the 
River.  This  monument  stands  a few  feet  west  of  the  probable  site 
of  the  original  milestone,  which  was  found  lying  upon  the  ground 
near  by.  28  May,  1884. 

Milestone  154  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  woods  near 
the  south-west* corner  of  a hemlock  slashing,  about  50  feet  West  of  a 
wood  road  and  28  feet  East  of  a small  run  in  the  bottom  of  a deep 
valley,  about  75  feet  above  (north  of)  where  it  is  joined  by  a brook 
from  the  north-east.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  29  May,  1884. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  marks  the  comer  of  the 
Towns  of  Portville  and  Olean  in  Cattaraugus  County.  It  stands 
upon  a gentle  slope  east  in  a tangled  mass  of  briars,  bushes,  logs,  and 
tree  tops  about  390  feet  East  of  Loup’s  Creek  and  11969  feet  East  of 
Milestone  155.  Its  longitudinal  position  was  fixed  by  measuring  the 
distance  from  155  given  in  the  Records  of  the  surveys  of  the  Hol- 
land Land  Company.  The  monument  set  by  this  company  to  mark 
this  point  was  abstracted  40  years  ago  or  more.f  29  May,  1884. 

*24  Mile  Post,  Elm,  6"d.,  N.  51  E 2t  links  ; Hickory,  10' d..  N.  29  W.  36 
links;  Maple  24"  d.  S.  53  E.  34  links  The  stump  of  the  hickory  yet  remains. 
In  1877  it  was  a tall  stub  upon  which  the  marks  were  quite  distinct. 

f“  Large  stone  28  miles  west  of  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  south-west  corner,  marked 
east  sid6  ‘ W.  & J.  Willink.  S.  W.  Cor.’,  west  side  H.  L.  Co.  Beg.’  ” James 
Sperrv  in  his  re-survey  of  Section  1 in  Township  1,  Range  4,  in  1847  makes  no 
mention  of  this  stone. 


No.  71.] 


245 


Milestone  155  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  open  woods, 
upon  a very  steep  easterly  slope  660  ft.  East  of  the  summit  of  the 
mountain  west  of  Loup’s  Creek  valley.  Replaces  the  original  mile- 
stone. 29  May,  1884. 

Milestone  156  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a wet  spot  upon  a 
steep  westerly  slope,  about  700  feet  East  of  Meek’s  Creek  and  845 
feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  east  side  of  the 
Meek’s  Creek  road.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  31  May,  1884. 

Milestone  157  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a narrow  ter- 
race in  thick  open  woods,  about  175  feet  North-east  of  an  oil  derrick 
and  225  feet  East  of  the  summit  of  the  high  ridge  between  Meek’s 
and  Indian  Creeks : general  slope  quite  steep  north-easterly.  Re- 
places the  original  milestone.  2 June,  1884. 

Milestone  158  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods  upon 
a bluff,  steep  south-easterly  slope  to  a brook  in  a ravine,  flowing  E. 
N.  E.  about  60  feet  distant;  about  1200  feet  West  of  the  North 
branch  of  Indian  Creek  and  1593  feet  West  of  a highway  monument 
standing  upon  the  east  side  of  the  telegraph  road.  The  original 
milestone  was  found  lying  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The 
new  monument  is  set  in  line  between  Milestones  157  and  159. 
7 June,  1884. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  marks  the  corner  of 
the  Towns  of  Eldred  and  Otto  in  McKean  County,  Penn.  It  was 
set  in  line  between  Milestones  157  and  159  opposite  the  old  War- 
rant Corner  stake,  near  the  top  of  a bluff  on  a steep  easterly  slope, 
south  of  thick  woods,  222  feet  West  of  a highway  monument  stand- 
ing upon  the  east  side  of  a road  north  of  the  hamlet  of  Wigwam. 
7 June,  1884. 

Milestone  159  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  woods  on  a 
southerly  slope,  155  feet  East  of  a Spring  brook,  and  17522  feet 
East  of  a highway  monument  on  the  south-westerly  side  of  the 
Indian  Creek  road.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  7 June,  1884. 

Milestone  160  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  wroods  upon 
a steep  north-easterly  slope;  directly  south  of  Derrick  No.  9,  of  the 
Bradford  Oil  Company,  about  700  feet  East  of  an  immense  rock 
near  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  and  1333  feet  East  of  a highway 
monument  standing  on  the  north-easterly  side  of  a road  on  the  sum- 
mit of  the  ridge  south-west  of  Indian  Creek.  This  milestone  is  set 
in  a westerly  prolongation  of  the  line  between  Milestones  157  and 
159,  opposite  the  probable  comer  of  two  Pennsylvania  Land  Dis- 
tricts. The  original  milestone  had  been  pulled  up  and  moved. 
9 June,  1884. 

Milestone  161  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a steep  westerly 
slope,  cleared  for  oil  purposes  and  partially  burned  over,  surrounded 
by  bushes,  stumps,  and  logs ; 9385  feet  west  of  a highway  monument 
standing  upon  the  east  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Knapp’s  Creek 
Station  to  Duke  Center,  and  about  275  feet  east  of  the  middle 
branch  of  Knapp’s  Creek.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  12  June, 
1884. 


246 


[Senate 


Milestone  162  is  a small  monument,  standing  in  woods  and  bushes 
upon  a steep  southerly  slope  about  125  feet  north-easterly  from  Der- 
rick No.  5 of  the  Union  Oil  Company,  and  about  490  feet  West  of 
Pembroke  Pun.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  13  June,  1884. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  marks  the  corner  of  the 
Towns  of  Otto  and  Bradford  in  McKean  County,  Penn.  It  stands 
upon  a steep  rocky,  southerly  slope  which  is  covered  with  bushes, 
fallen  trees,  and  logs;  2354  feet  West  of  Milestone  162,  and  about 
300  feet  west  of  the  head  of  a valley  which  trends  S.  W.  14  June, 
1884. 

Milestone  163  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods,  upon 
level  ground,  south-east  side  of  the  summit  of  the  ridge  west  of  the 
head  of  Chipmunk  Pun,  about  200  feet  South  of  the  fourth  Der- 
rick of  the  Enterprise  Transit  Oil  Co.  Replaces  the  original  mile- 
stone. 14  June,  1884. 

Milestone  164  is  a small  monument  standing  in  an  open  space  in 
the  woods,  cleared  for  a log  skidway,  upon  a gentle  slope  south-east, 
about  50  feet  north  of  a timber  tramway,  about  450  feet  north-easterly 
from  where  the  tramway  crosses  Harrisburg  Pun,  7 chains  79  links 
(Records  of  Surveys  of  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase)  east  of 
the  south-west  corner  of  Lot  1,  Section  13,  of  Township  1,  Range 
5.  Replaces  original  milestone.  24  June,  1884. 

Milestone  165  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  open  woods 
upon  a narrow  terrace  upon  a steep  westerly  slope,  888  feet  West  of 
the  S.  E.  Corner  of  Carrolton  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  wdiich  is  upon  the 
west  side  of  the  summit  of  the  high  ridge  between  Harrisburg  Run 
and  State  Line  Run.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  21  June, 
1884. 

Milestone  166  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  a narrow  open- 
ing (cut  for  a skidway)  in  thick  woods  near  the  south-east  side  of 
State  Line  Run  road,  which  is  little  used  ; 166  feet  East  of  a small 
brook.  The  original  milestone  wat  not  found.  The  new  monu- 
ment was  placed  in  line  between  Milestone  165  and  the  Seventh 
Latitude  Stone.  21  June,  1884. 

Milestone  167  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  the  Tuna  Flats, 
south-east  side  of  a narrow"  slough  ; about  200  feet  East  of  Tunaun- 
guant  Creek;  about  139  feet  West  of  a railroad  monument  standing 
at  the  east  side  of  the  track  of  the  Bradford  Branch  of  the  N.  Y., 
L.  E.,  & W.,  R.  R.,  and  about  15  feet  North  of  iron  oil  tank  No.  506, 
United  Pipe  Lines.  The  original  milestone  had  been  puHed  up  and 
moved.  The  newr  monument  was  placed  in  line  between  Milestone 
165  and  the  Seventh  Latitude  Stone,  528  feet  east  of  the  latter. 
20  June,  1884. 

Milestone  167^  is  a small  monument  upon  the  Tuna  Flats,  at  the 
east  edge  of  the  original  Seventh  Latitude  Stone,  wrhich  was  left 
standing  in  place,  a short  distance  north-east  of  iron  oil  tank  No. 
637,  United  Pipe  Lines,  about  250  feet  West  of  Tunaunguant 
Creek.  The  new  monument  is  869  ft.  South  and  O90  ft.  East  from  the 


No.  71.] 


247 


center  of  Astronomical  Station  Tuna  Valley,  and  its  Latitude  as  de- 
duced from  the  observations  at  this  Station  is  42°  00'  04//.09.  A 
deflection  in  the  Boundary  to  the  south,  of  1°  41'  occurs  at  this 
monument.  17  June,  1884. 

Milestone  168  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a little  knoll 
upon  a steep  North-easterly  slope  westeside  of  the  head  of  a cove  in 
the  mountain,  about  200  feet  west  of  a brook,  and  about  525  feet  East 
of  the  narrow  summit  of  the  high  ridge  west  of  the  Tuna  Valley. 
Replaces  the  original  milestone.  26  June,  1884. 

Milestone  169  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a gentle  west- 
erly slope  in  thick  open  woods  north-east  side  of  the  head  of  a valley 
opening  out  upon  Bolivar  Brook  ; about  865  feet  West  of  the  west 
side  of  the  summit  of  the  main  ridge.  The  original  milestone  was 
not  found.  2 July,  1884. 

Milestone  170  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a partially  cleared 
space  in  thick  woods,  upon  a very  steep  easterly  slope,  about  600 
feet  west  of  Bolivar  Brook ; 485  feet  East  of  a small  monument 
with  diagonal  grooves  which  marks  the  corner  of  Sections  54  and  66 
in  Township  1,  Range  6,  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase,*  (the 
distance  given  in  the  record  of  the  Surveys  of  the  II.  L.  Co.,  is  495 
feet  but  it  was  found  impracticable  to  set  the  milestone  there  on 
account  of  upturned  roots,)  and  109b6  feet  West  of  a highway  monu- 
ment standing  upon  the  east  side  of  the  Bolivar  Brook  Road.  The 
original  milestone  was  not  found.  1 July,  1S84. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  was  set  at  the  south  end 
of  the  u Western  Transit  Meridian”  of  the  Holland  Land  Co.  Pur- 
chase, opposite  the  original  transit  monument,  which  was  reset  at  the 
North  side  of  the  new  monument.  It  stands  in  thick  open  woods 
upon  a gentle  northerly  slope,  about  20  feet  South  of  a wood  road, 
and  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Carrolton  and  Red  House  in 
Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y.  30  June,  18S4. 

The  last  three  monuments  were  set  in  line  between  Milestones 
168  and  171. 

Milestone  171  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  level  ground  in 
thick  open  woods  (beech  & maple)  548*  feet  West  of  the  u Transit 
Monument.”  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  30  June,  1884. 

Milestone  172  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  open  woods 
upon  a gentle  south-easterly  slope,  about  50  feet  north-westerly  from 
brow  of  slope  South-east  to  Bennett  Brook,  and  800  feet  East  of  a 
highway  monument  standing  on  the  north-easterly  side  of  the  old 
Bradford  Trail.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  3 July,  1884. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  was  set  in  line  between 
Milestone  172  and  173  to  replace  the  original  monument  set  by  the 
Holland  Land  Company  to  mark  the  south-west  corner  of  the  “ Wil- 
link  Strip.”  Upon  level  ground  in  thick  woods,  surrounded  by  old 
fallen  logs  and  upturned  roots,  about  60  feet  South  of  the  old  Brad- 

* “ Beech  6"d.  N.  21°  W.  33  links  ; Beech  9"d.  N.  24°  E.  30  links.”  Both  these 
witness  trees  yet  remain. 


248 


[Senate 


ford  Trail,  and  1539  feet  West  of  Milestone  172.  The  original 
monument  was  reset  at  the  north  side  of  the  new  one.  3 July,  1884. 

Milestone  173  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  hemlock 
woods,  upon  level  ground  covered  thickly  with  mossy  rocks.  South- 
west of  a gentle  slope  toward  Red  House  Creek ; about  2000  feet 
south-westerly  from  an  abandoned  lumber  camp  on  Red  House  Creek 
known  as  “ Cass  Du  ell’s  old  Shanties.”  Replaces  the  original  mile- 
stone. 7 July,  1884. 

A small  monument  marked  “ 3 M.  P.”  was  set  in  the  place  of  the 
3 mile  post  upon  the  south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  7,  of  the  Hol- 
land Land  Company’s  Purchase,  which  was  located  by  measurement 
from  the  3 original  witness  trees  noted  in  the  Records  of  the  Sur- 
veys of  the  H.  L.  Co.*  In  thick  open  woods,  upon  a steep  northerly 
slope,  surrounded  by  rocks;  about  10  feet  west  of  a small  spring 
brook  ; about  260  feet  west  of  the  corner  of  Sections  25  and  33  of 
Township  1,  Range  7.  9 July,  1884. 

Milestone  174  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick,  open,  mossy 
woods,  upon  a slope  northerly  toward  Quaker  Run  ; about  600  feet 
E.  of  the  easterly  browr  of  summit  which  the  Boundary  intersects 
quite  diagonally,  and  about  1052  feet  west  of  the  3 M.  P.  monu- 
ment. The  original  milestone  was  found  lying  upon  the  surface  of 
the  ground.  The  new  monument  was  placed  in  line  with  Mile- 
stones 173  and  the  3 M.  P.  monument.  9 July,  IS84. 

Milestone  175  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  open  woods 
upon  a steep  southerly  slope  near  the  foot  and  about  100  feet  west 
of  a windfall ; 15552  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  on 
the  southerly  side  of  a trail  from  Quaker  Run  to  Bradford,  and 
about  1072  feet  East  of  the  corner  of  Sections  41  and  49  Township 
1,  Range  7,  H.  L.  Co’s  Purchase.  Replaces  the  original  milestone. 
9 July,  1884. 

Milestone  176  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  woods  upon 
a steep  southerly  slope,  about  300  feet  South  of  the  summit  of  the 
ridge,  and  about  \ mile  west  of  brow  of  slope  where  it  intersects 
the  Boundary;  268  feet  West  of  the  S.  E.  corner  of  Section  57  in 
Township  1,  Range  7,  (Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase),  Re- 
places the  original  milestone.  12  July,  1S84. 

A small  monument  was  set  at  the  5£  mile  post  on  the  south  line 
of  Township  1,  Range  7,  in  line  between  Milestones  176  and  177  at 
a point  identified  by  means  of  the  original  witness  trees.f  It  is  in 
thick  bushy  woods,  on  a narrow  terrace  of  a steep  south-westerly 
slope,  about  200  feet  above  the  foot  of  the  slope,  1411  feet  West  of 
Milestone  176.  12  July,  1884. 

Milestone  177  is  a small  monument  standing  in  the  north  edge  of 
thick  woods  near  a partial  clearing  about  125  feet  west  of  the  north- 
west corner  of  a cleared  field  and  455“  feet  west  of  a highway 

* “3  Miles , Sugar  Post:  Beech  20”  d.  S 53°  W.  45  links:  Birch  10"d.  N 25°  E. 

7 links:  Hemlock  20"  d.  S 30°  E.  45  links  ” 

f “ 5£  miles , White  Ash  Post;  Hemlock  24"  d.  N 15°  W.,  11  links ; Sugar  26"  d. 
S 12°  W.,  10  links.” 


No.  71.] 


249 


monument  standing  upon  the  west  side  of  the  road  up  the  south 
branch  of  Quaker  Run.  The  original  milestone  was  not  found. 
The  new  monument  is  set  in  an  eastward  prolongation  of  a line 
drawn  from  Milestone  178  through  the  monument  at  the  south-west 
corner  of  the  Town  of  Red  House.  10  July,  1884. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  marks  the  corner  be- 
tween the  towns  of  Red  House  and  South  Valley.  It  stands  in 
open  woods,  upon  a short  steep  northerly  slope,  south  side  of  a nar- 
row ravine,  about  10  feet  south  of  a brook  running  west;  2753s  feet 
East  of  Milestone  178,  and  about  600  feet  west  of  the  summit  of 
the  ridge  west  of  Milestone  177.  The  position  was  fixed  by 
measurement  from  two  of  the  original  witness  trees,  which  are  still 
standing.*  10  July,  1884. 

Milestone  178  is  a small  monument  standing  in  the  north  edge 
of  a burned  slashing,  covered  with  fallen  trees  and  bushes,  south  of 
thick  open  woods ; upon  a north-easterly  slope  330  feet  east  of  the 
summit  of  ridge  east  of  the  valley  of  Wolf  Run,  167  feet  West  of 
a large  maple  standing  upon  the  brow  of  a very  steep  north-easterly 
slope  ; and  1170  feet  West  of  the  west  branch  of  Quaker  Run.  Re- 
places the  original  milestone.  10  July,  1884. 

Milestone  179  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  open  woods 
upon  level  ground  upon  the  north  bank  of  a shallow  ravine,  about  200 
feet  East  of  Wolf  Run  and  9(  8 feet  East  of  a highway  monument 
standing  on  the  south-west  side  of  the  Wolf  Run  road.  Replaces 
the  original  milestone.  11  July,  18S4. 

Milestone  180  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  open  woods 
on  a steep  north-westerly  slope,  66  feet  east  of  a brook  (branch  of 
Wolf  Run)  in  a deep  ravine.  Replaces  the  original  milestone. 
11  July,  18S4. 

Milestone  181  is  a small  monument  standing  south  side  of  a large 
Oak  log  in  thick  open  young  woods,  (principally  oak  and  chestnut,) 
on  a gentle  south-westerly  slope,  about  200  feet  north  from  the  north- 
west corner  of  a clearing  which  has  grown  up  to  bushes,  overlook- 
ing the  valley  of  a branch  of  Willow  Creek ; and  1000  feet  East  of  the 
brow  of  a steep  north-westerly  slope.  Replaces  the  original  mile- 
stone. 15  July,  1884. 

Milestone  182  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a small  opening 
in  thin  bushy  woods  on  a steep  southerly  slope  north  of  Willow 
Creek  valley,  1742  feet  East  of  a brook  in  a deep  ravine,  and  about 
300  feet  west  of  the  summit  of  the  ridge.  Replaces  the  original 
milestone.  15  July,  1884. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  marks  the  corner  of 
the  Counties  of  McKean  and  Warren  in  Pennsylvania.  It  stands 
upon  a south-westerly  slope  in  thin  bushy  woods,  297  feet  West  of 
Milestone  182,  in  line  toward  183,  opposite  the  position  of  a large 

* “ 6 mile  post,  Sugar  20"d.  N.  32^°  E.,  56  links;  Birch  15"d.  N.  61°  W.t  40 
links.”  [H.  L.  Co.  Survey  of  Township  1 Range  8].  The  later  survey  of  Section 
1 in  that  Township  gives  an  additional  witness,  “Beech  14"d.,  N.  46°  W.,  77 
links.”  The  Sugar  and  Beech  yet  remain. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  32 


250  [Senate 

stake  surrounded  by  a pile  of  stones,  set  by  the  County  Line  Com- 
mission in  1873.  15  July,  1881. 

Milestone  183  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  level  ground  in 
a small  opening  in  woods  north  side  of  a grove  of  pine  and  oak, 
between  two  brooks,  branches  of  Willow  Creek,  about  800  feet  East 
of  the  west  edge  of  the  woods.  Replaces  the  original  milestone. 
10  July,  1884. 

An  iron  Monument  set  by  the  U.  S.  Commission  in  1878  or  1879, 
to  mark  the  S.  E.  corner  of  the  Allegany  Indian  Reservation,  stand- 
ing in  the  center  of  the  Road,  178326  feet  West  of  Milestone  183, 
is  0s5  ft.  too  far  south. 

Milestone  184  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  nearly  level 
ground,  in  an  open  field  east  of  the  Allegany  River,  and  5902  feet 
East  of  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  east  side  of  the  River 
Road.  Replaces  a monument  set  in  1873  by  the  McKean  and  War- 
ren County  Line  Commission,  and  is  447  feet  South  and  051  ft.  east 
from  the  center  of  Astronomical  Station  Corydon.  Its  latitude,  as 
deduced  from  the  observations  at  the  Station  in  1879,  is  41°  59'  59". 5. 
16  July,  1884. 

Milestone  185  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a small  clear  spot 
in  a bushy  pasture,  South  of  thick  woods,  upon  a north-easterly 
slope,  South  of  State  Line  Run,  290  feet  West  of  a small  brook  in  a 
shallow  ravine.  The  original  milestone  had  been  pulled  up  and  left 
lying  upon  the  ground.  The  new  monument  was  set  in  a westward 
prolongation  of  the  line  between  Milestones  183  and  184,  2944  feet 
East  (the  distance  given  in  the  Records  of  Surveys  of  the  Holland 
Land  Company)  from  the  south-west  corner  of  the  Allegany  Indian 
Reservation.  22  July,  1884. 

The  latter  corner  is  marked  by  a monument  of  the  highway  pat- 
tern, which  is  set  opposite  the  point  at  which  an  iron  monument  was 
temporarily  placed  by  the  U.  S.  Commission  in  1878  or  1879.  The 
iron  monument  was  reset  at  the  north  side  of  the  granite  monument. 
Upon  a gentle  easterly  slope  in  a thick  growth  of  briars,  south  side 
of  a large  hemlock  stump,  just  south  of  the  brow  of  a steep  north- 
erly slope  toward  State  Line  Run.  22  July,  1884. 

Milestone  186  is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  north- 
westerly side  of  the  State  Line  Run  road,  about  50  feet  north  of 
State  Line  Run.  The  original  monument  had  been  pulled  up  and 
left  lying  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground.  22  July,  1884. 

Milestone  187  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a southerly 
slope  in  woods  grown  up  to  bushes,  north  side  of  an  upturned  root, 
and  about  50  feet  cast  of  a wood  road.  The  original  milestone  had 
been  thrown  out,  probably  by  the  upturning  of  the  roots  of  a tree, 
i 24  July,  1884. 

The  last  three  monuments  are  set  in  line  between  Milestones  185 
and  188. 

Milestone  188  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  thick  woods, 
upon  a gentle  south-easterly  slope,  surrounded  by  fragments  of  rock, 


No.  71.] 


251 


about  50  feet  north  of  an  abandoned  road,  and  450  feet  east  of  State 
Line  Run  below  an  old  bridge,  and  1014  feet  West  of  a highway 
monument  standing  in  a shallow  ravine  marking  the  corner  of  Sec- 
tions 34  and  49  of  Township  1,  Range  9,  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company’s  Purchase.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  21  Julv, 
1884. 

A small  monument  in  line  between  Milestones  188  and  189  marks 
the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Elk  and  Pine  Grove  in  Warren  County, 
Penn.  It  stands  in  the  open  field  upon  the  east  side  of  the  summit 
of  Robbins’  Hill,  29  23  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing 
upon  the  east  side  of  the  road  on  the  summit.  It  is  set  opposite  the 
stake  placed  in  1881,  by  order  of  the  County  Commissioners,  to 
mark  the  Town  Corner.  4 Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  189  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  tangled 
woods  on  a steep  westerly  slope,  about  330  feet  west  of  the  west 
edge  of  a clearing,  and  7303  feet  west  of  the  highway  monument 
standing  upon  the  east  side  of  the  Road  upon  the  summit  of  Rob- 
bin’s  Hill.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  4 Aug.,  1884. 

A highway  monument  marks  the  corner  of  Cattaraugus  and 
Chautauqua  Counties  in  New  York.  It  stands  at  the  southwest- 
erly corner  of  bushy  woods,  at  the  south  end  of  a road  laid  out  on 
the  County  Line  but  not  opened.  13801  feet  West  of  Milestone  189 
and  9S2’°  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  west 
side  of  a road.  It  is  set  opposite  the  stake  set  by  O.  D.  Hinckley 
from  the  remains  of  the  original  witness  trees*  in  1870,  and  in  line 
between  Milestones  189  and  191.  5 Aug.,  1884. 

Chautauqua  Countt,  N.  Y. 

Milestone  190  is  a small  monument  upon  nearly  level  land  covered 
with  briars  and  fallen  logs,  about  200  feet  north  of  a clearing,  at  the 
south  side  of  a gully,  about  15  feet  south  of  the  north  branch  of  a 
brook  .running  west.  Opposite  the  point  where  the  original  mile- 
stone is  said  to  have  stood  when  it  was  broken  down  by  a falling 
tree;  in  line  between  Milestones  189  and  191.  5 Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  191  is  a small  monument  standing  in  cleared  land  north 
of  a piece  of  woods  upon  an  easterly  slope,  about  1365  feet  West  of 
a highway  monument  making  the  corner  of  Sections  9 and  17  in 
Township  1,  Range  10,  of  the  Holland  Land  Co.,  Purchase,  standing 
east  side  of  the  road  in  the  valley  of  Storehouse  Brook.  The  mile- 
stone is  set  in  an  eastwardly  prolongation  of  the  line  from  Milestone 
192  through  the  4 M.  P.  monument.  The  original  milestone  has 
been  plowed  up  and  moved  about.  6 Aug.,  1884. 

A small  monument  replaces  the  stake  set  in  1870  by  O.  D.  Hinck- 
ley by  measurement  from  the  original  witness  trees  to  mark  the  4 
mile  post  upon  the  south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  10,  of  the  Hol- 

*“  6 Mile  Post ; W.,  pine,  80'  d,  N-,  6°  E.  45  links  ; Poplar,  24"  d.  N.77°  W.  4 
links.”  Both  are  now  gone.  One  was  standing  in  1870. 


252 


[Senate 


land  Land  Co.,  Purchase.*  It  stands  upon  a steep  bluff  west  side 
of  a deep  ravine,  about  100  feet  west  of  a brook,  and  1107"6 7  feet 
west  of  Milestone  191.  6 Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  192  is  a small  monument  standing  in  an  open  chestnut 
grove,  South  side  of  thick  woods,  on  a westerly  slope,  south-east  side 
of  a small  ravine,  and  395  feet  west  of  the  summit  of  a ridge  west 
side  of  a deep  ravine.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  0 Aug., 
1884. 

Milestone  193  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a narrow  gravel 
ridge  between  two  swamps  in  the  Conewango  Flats,  5600  feet  West 
of  Milestone  192  and  about  2200  feet  east  of  the  Conewango  River. 
The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  6 Aug.,  1884. 

A small  monument  stands  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  Conewango 
River.  7 Aug.,  1884. 

The  last  two  monuments  are  in  line  between  Milestones  192  and 
194. 

Milestone  194  is  a small  monument  standing  in  the  edge  of  thick 
woods,  against  the  east  side  of  a large  sandstone  monument  set  by 
A.  T.  Prendergast  in  1871,  west  side  of  a road,  about  3575  feet  West 
of  the  Conewango  River.  7 Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  195  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  stand- 
ing in  nearly  level  cleared  land,  east  side  of  a shallow  ravine,  and 
3676  ft.  East  of  a Highway  monument  on  the  west  side  of  the  road 
leading  from  Kiantone  to  Pine  Grove.  It  marks  the  corner  of  the 
Towns  of  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington  in  Warren  Co.,  Penn.,  and 
is  set  in  line  between  Milestone  194  and  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone, 
660  feet  East  of  the  latter.  The  original  milestone  was  found  lying 
upon  the  surface  of  the  ground  broken  in  pieces.  11  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  195-J  is  a small  monument  set  at  the  east  edge  of  the 
original  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  which  was  left  standing  in  place. 
It  is  in  the  north  edge  of  thick  woods,  at  the  west  brow  of  a narrow 
ravine.  7 Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  196  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a gentle  north- 
erly slope,  north  side  of  thick  woods,  242  feet  East  of  the  south- 
west corner  of  a clearing.  The  original  milestone  was  found  lying 
upon  the  surface  several  rods  South.  13  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  197  is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  a gentle 
slope  north,  30  feet  East  of  a road.  In  cultivated  land.  The  origi- 
nal milestone  was  found  in  a stone  pile  near  by.  13  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  198  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  level  land, 
north  side  of  a clearing,  in  the  edge  of  woods,  7058  feet  West  of  a 
highway  monument  standing  upon  the  east  side  of  the  road  upon 
the  Town  line  of  Kiantone  and  Busti  in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 
The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  13  Aug.,  1884. 

The  last  three  milestones  are  set  in  a line  drawn  from  the  Eighth 
Latitude  Stone  west  through  the  2£  M.  P.  monument. 

* “ 4 mile  post ; chestnut  8"  d.  N 60°  E.,  11  links.  White  oak  18"  d.  N 42°  W.’ 

7 links."  The  chestnut  was  standing  in  1870. 


No.  71.] 


253 


A small  monument  replaces  the  stake  set  in  1870  by  O.  D.  Hinck- 
ley by  measurement  from  the  original  witness  tree^*  to  mark  the  2J- 
Mile  Post  upon  the  south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  11,  of  the  Hol- 
land Land  Company’s  Purchase.  It  is  in  open  woods,  upon  a west- 
erly slope,  about  300  feet  west  of  the  summit  of  the  ridge  and  2175 
feet  West  of  Milestone  198.  14  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  199  is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  west 
side  of  a road  near  the  head  of  York  Run.  The  original  milestone 
was  not  found.  The  new  monument  is  set  in  a westward  prolonga- 
tion of  the  line  from  the  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  to  the  2J  M.  P. 
monument,  and  at  the  distance  from  the  latter  given  in  the  Field 
Notes  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Surveys  for  the  position  of 
the  “ Beech  tree,  199.”  14  Aug.,  18S4. 

Milestone  200  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  south  edge  of 
woods,  upon  a southerly  slope,  north  of  a ravine,  at  the  corner  of 
two  Pennsylvania  farms,  which  is  also  the  corner  of  Penn.,  War- 
rants No.  242  and  291 ; about  100  feet  East  of  the  head  of  a long 
westerly  slope.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  13  Aug.,  1884. 

A small  monument  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Farmington 
and  Sugar  Grove  in  Warren  Co.,  Penn.  It  was  set  opposite  a stake 
set  in  1881,  by  order  of  the  County  Commissioners,  to  mark  the  Town 
line.  It  is  upon  level  ground,  in  a little  cove  in  a low  bluff,  which 
slopes  south,  about  13  ft.  south  of  the  foot  of  the  slope ; about  G50 
feet  west  of  a brook  flowing  north-westerly  and  26  205  feet  West  of 
Milestone  200.  22  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  201  is  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  west  side  of 
the  road  east  of  Stillwater  Creek.  ' The  original  monument  had  been 
pulled  up  and  used  in  blocking  up  a rail  fence  corner.  10  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  202  is  a small  monument  standing  in  an  open  field  north 
of  a garden  and  orchard,  upon  an  easterly  slope,  21 136  feet  West  of  a 
highway  monument  standing  at  the  north-west  side  of  the  stage  road 
leading  from  Jamestown  to  Sugar  Grove.  The  original  milestone 
was  not  found.  16  Aug.,  1884. 

The  last  three  monuments  were  set  in  line  between  Milestones  200 
and  203. 

Milestone  203  is  a small  monument  standing  in  thick  woods,  upon 
nearly  level  ground,  at  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  Warrants  No.  289 
and  214,  and  20&  feet  West  of  the  south-east  corner  of  J.  Boswell’s 
farm ; about  500  feet  east  of  a brook  in  a deep  ravine.  Replaces  the 
original  milestone.  18  Aug.,  18S4. 

A highway  monument  standing  upon  the  east  side  of  the  road  north 
from  the  village  of  Sugar  Grove,  20S3  feet  West  of  Milestone  203  in 
line  toward  204,  is  706  feet  West  and  2376  feet  North  from  the  center 
of  Astronomical  Station  Sugar  Grove.  The  Latitude  of  this  monu- 
ment as  deduced  from  the  observations  at  the  Station  in  1879  is 
41°  59'  59". 07.  21  Aug.,  1884. 

* “ 40  Chain  Post : Beech  7"  d.N  22°  E.  10  links.  Beech  12"  d.  N 58°  W.  39 
links.”  Both  are  now  gone.  The  west  witness  was  standing  in  1870. 


254 


[Senate 


Milestone  204  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  edge  of  thick 
open  woods  about  15  feet  East  of  the  south-west  corner  of  a clearing, 
and  at  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  Warrants  No.  244  and  243  ; about 
75  feet  East  of  a brook  flowing  north  in  a shallow  ravine.  Replaces 
the  original  milestone.  18  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  205  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a gentle  west- 
erly slope  in  open  woods,  about  360  feet  west  from  a brook  flowing 
southerly  in  a shallow  ravine,  and  about  2404  feet  West  of  a highway 
monument  standing  at  the  east  side  of  a road  leading  north-west  from 
Sugar  Grove  to  Ashville.  Replaces  a sleigh-shoe  which  for  a long 
time  has  marked  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  Warrants  No.  243  and 
193,  the  probable  position  of  the  original  milestone,  which  was  never 
known.  20  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  206  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  standing 
in  cleared  (pasture)  land  north  of  a thin  piece  of  woods,  upon  an 
easterly  slope,  about  50  feet  East  of  the  brow ; 1520  feet  West  of  a 
highway  monument  standing  at  the  east  end  of  a short  jog  in  the 
road  crossing  the  line.  The  original  milestone  was  never  known. 
The  new  monument  is  set  in  line  between  Milestones  205  and  207, 
opposite  the  stake  set  in  1SS1,  bv  order  of  the  County  Commissioners, 
to  mark  the  line  between  the  Towns  of  Sugar  Grove  and  Freehold 
in  Warren  County,  Pennsylvania.  20  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  207  is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  north-west  cor- 
ner of  a triangular  piece  of  woods.,  upon  nearly  level  ground,  49U3 
feet  west  of  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  east  side  of  the 
road  upon  the  line  between  Ranges  13  and  14  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company’s  Purchase.  Replaces  the  remains  of  three  stakes  of  various 
ages,  which  have  for  years  marked  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  War- 
rants No.  192  and  187.  The  original  milestone  was  never  known. 
22  Aug.,  1884. 

Milestone  208  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods  upon 
nearly  level  ground,  about  10  feet  west  of  the  top  of  a low  bluff,  the 
west  bank  of  a hollow  ravine  ; about  45  feet  West  of  JDeer  Lick  Creek, 
and  462  feet  East  of  same  Creek  where  it  again  crosses  the  Boundary 
flowing  south-westerly.  Replaces  the  original  milestone.  25  Aug., 
1884. 

Milestone  209  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  level  partially 
cleared  ground,  about  50  feet  west  of  the  right  bank  of  the  Little 
Brokenstraw  Creek.  An  original  milestone  was  never  known.  17 
Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  210  is  a small  monument  standing  in  an  open  space  in 
woods  upon  a low  knoll,  in  a swamp,  9867  feet  West  of  a small 
monument  at  the  north-w’est  side  of  the  track  of  the  N.Y.,  P.  & O. 
R.  R.  The  original  milestone  is  unknown.  The  new  monument 
was  set  opposite  a stake  which  marked  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania 
Warrants  No.  103  and  104.  15  Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  211  is  a small  monument  standing  in  cleared  land  at  the 
north  end  of  a fence  which  indicates  the  line  between  Pennsylvania 


255 


No.  71.] 

Warrants  103  and  392,  on  a soutli-westerly  slope,  about  150  feet  east1 
of  a brook  in  a shallow  ravine.  An  original  milestone  was  unknown. 
15  Sept.,  1884. 

The  last  three  milestones  were  set  in  a line  drawn  from  Milestone 
208  through  a stake  set  in  1870  from  the  remains  of  the  original  wit- 
nesses by  O.  D.  Hinckley,  to  mark  the  position  of  the  3 Mile  Post 
upon  the  south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  13,  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company’s  Purchase*  (4924  feet  East  of  Milestone  210). 

A large  boulder  with  a cross  upon  its  top,  in  line  between  Milestones 
211  and  212,  marks  the  line  between  sections  41  and  49  in  Township 
1,  Range  13,  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase.  It  stands  in 
cleared  land  upon  the  summit  north-east  of  the  village  of  Bear  Lake. 
Reset  17  Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  212  is  a small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves,  stand- 
ing on  nearly  level  ground  in  'woods,  near  the  north-east  corner  of  a 
partial  clearing,  about  750  feet  east  of  a brook,  and  about  1017  feet 
West  of  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  east  side  of  the  road 
leading  north  from  the  west  end  of  the  village  of  Bear  Lake.  Re- 
places  a stake  and  stones  set  to  mark  the  corner  of  the  towns  of 
Freehold  and  Columbus  in  Warren  County,  Pennsylvania.  An 
original  milestone  was  unknown.  17  Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  213  is  a small  monument  standing  in  cultivated  land 
upon  a gentle  westerly  slope,  about  738  feet  west  of  a highway 
monument  standing  at  the  east  side  of  the  road  which  follows  the 
line  between  the  Towns  of  Harmony  and  Clymer  in  Chautauqua  Co., 
New  York.  18  Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  214  is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  level  cleared 
land,  covered  with  clumps  of  bushes  and  briars ; north  side  of  a road 
which  follows  the  State  Line;  about  80  feet  West  of  a wet  swail, 
and  4588  feet  East  of  a highway  monument  standing  at.  the  inter- 
section of  State  Line  Road  with  a road  leading  South-westerly  toward 
Columbus.  16  Sept.,  84. 

The  last  two  milestones  are  set  in  line  between  Milestones  212 
and  215. 

Milestone  215  is  a small  monument  standing  in  open  woods,  upon 
rolling  land,  upon  a gentle  easterly  slope,  about  30  feet  East  of  the 
east  brow  of  a deep  ravine;  about  1221  feet  West  of  a highway 
monument  standing  upon  the  south-westerly  side  of  a new  road  west 
side  of  a swamp  on  a branch  of  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek.  An  orig- 
inal milestone  is  unknown.  The  new  monument  is  set  in  an  east- 
ward prolongation  of  the  line  drawn  from  Milestone  218  through 
the  Section  Corner  696!  feet  West  of  215.  16  Sept.,  1SS4. 

A highway  monument  marks  the  corner  above  referred  to,  of  Sec- 
tions 17  and  25  in  Township  1,  of  Range  14,  of  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany’s Purchase.  It  stands  in  level  wet  ground,  at  the  south  edge  of 

Post 7 Maple,  12"  d.,  N.  2°  E.,  32  links:  Beech.  8"d.,  N.  24°  E.,  25 
links.”  Mr.  Hinckley  says,  “ At  8 miles,  identified  both  witnesses  and  set  red- 
beech  stake  on  line.  Witness  trees  down  and  badly  decayed.” 


256 


[Senate 


thick  woods,  near  the  north-east  corner  of  a clearing,  at  the  south- 
easterly end  of  a road  laid  out  and  cut  through  the  woods,  but  now 
abandoned.  Replaces  the  old  stake  which  was  set  by  reference  to 
the  original  witnesses  which  are  not  now  standing.  16  Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  216  is  a smalt  monument  standing  in  the  open  field 
upon  a westerly  slope,  74T7  feet  east  of  a highway  monument 
standing  upon  the  north-easterly  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Cly- 
mer  to  Columbus.  An  original  milestone  is  unknown.  12  Sept., 
1884. 

Milestone  217  is  a highway  monument  in  the  north  line  of  the 
road  which  is  laid  out  along  the  Boundary ; upon  a westerly  slope, 
about  730  feet  west  of  the  west  side  of  the  summit  of  the  ridge  Cast 
of  the  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek.  An  original  milestone  is  unknown. 
12  Sept.,  1884. 

The  corner  of  Warren  and  Erie  Counties  in  Pennsylvania  is 
marked  by  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  north  side  of  the 
road  along  the  Boundary,  opposite  the  stake  set  in  1881  by  order  of 
the  County  Commissioners  to  mark  the  County  Corner.  Upon  a 
westerly  slope,  479  feet  West  of  a large  maple  standing  upon  the 
north  side  of  the  road,  and  4620  feet  West  of  Milestone  217.  12 

Sept.,  1884. 

The  last  four  monuments  are  set  in  line  between  Milestones  215 
and  218. 

Milestone  218  is  a small  monument  standing  in  a maple  grove, 
north  of  an  orchard,  upon  a north-easterly  slope,  7 86®  feet  West  of 
a highway  monument  standing  in  the  east  side  of  the  road  leading 
from  Clymer  d(5wn  the  west  side  of  the  valley  of  the  Big  Broken- 
straw  Creek.  An  original  milestone  is  unknown.  The  newr  monu- 
ment is  set  in  a line  drawn  from  Milestone  219,  through  a Section 
Corner  5294  feet  W est  of  2 1 8.  11  Sept.,  1 884. 

A small  monument  with  diagonal  grooves  marks  the  corner  above 
referred  to,  of  Sections  49  and  57.  It  stands  midway  upon  a very 
steep  north-westerly  slope,  the  south-easterly  side  of  a deep  ravine,  in 
a bushy  piece  of  woods,  partially  cleared  on  the  south.  Superfluous 
figures  were  cut  out  of  the  westerly  faces  of  the  monument.  Re- 
places a stake  which  was  set  by  measurement  from  the  original  wit- 
ness trees,*  which  still  remain.  11  Sept.,  1S84. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Clymer  and  French  Creek  in  Chautau- 
qua County,  is  marked  by  a highway  monument  standing  beside 
(North  of)  the  wagon  track  of  the  State  Line  Road.  It  is  set  in 
line  between  Milestones  218  and  219,  opposite  the  point  at  which 
stood  the  old  stake  which  marked  the  Corner  of  Townships  1,  of 
Ranges  14  and  15,  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase.  11 
Sept,  1884. 

Milestone  219  is  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  north  edge 
of  the  wagon  track  of  the  State  Line  Road,  upon  level  ground  upon 
the  second  summit  west  of  Big  Brokenstraw  Valley.  The  original 


* *•  Hemlock  24"  d.  N 45°  W.  15  links;  Hemlock  16"  d.  N 24°  E.,  61  links." 


No.  71.] 


257 


milestone  was  not  found.  The  new  monument  is  placed  in  the  east- 
ward prolongation  of  a line  drawn  from  the  monument  at  the  South- 
west Corner  of  New  York  through  the  M.  P.  monument  20024 
feet,  (the  distance  given  in  the  Records  of  the  Surveys  of  the  Hol- 
land Land  Company)  west  of  Milestone  219.  4 Sept.,  1884. 

A.  highway  monument,  standing  in  the  north  line  of  the  State 
Line  Road,  marks  the  place  of  the  original  5^  Mile  Post  upon  the 
south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  15,  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s 
Purchase.  The  point  was  fixed  by  measurement  from  the  stump  of 
the  original  cherry  witness*  which  still  remains.  4 Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  220  is  a highway  monument  standing. in  the  north  line 
of  the  State  Line  Road  upon  the  east  slope  of  the  third  knoll  west 
of  a deep  ravine,  east  of  the  valley  of  Hare  Creek.  The  original 
milestone  was  not  found.  The  new  monument  was  placed  at  the 
distance  East  of  the  Corner  of  Sections  9 and  17,  in  Township  1, 
Range  15,  given  in  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Records.  10 
Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  221  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  south  edge 
of  woods,  west  of  a ravine,  north  side  of  the  State  Line  Road, 
where  the  road  turns  toward  the  south-east,  above  the  summit  of  a 
steep  easterly  slope.  The  original  milestone  was  not  foui.d.  The 
new  monument  was  placed  at  the  distance  west  of  the  Corner  of 
Sections  9 and  17  in  Township  1,  Range  15,  given  in  the  Holland 
Land  Company’s  Records.  9 Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  222  is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  cultivated 
ground  upon  the  north  tside  of  the  State  Line  Road,  on  a westerly 
slope  7607  feet  west  of  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the 
summit  of  the  ridge  at  the  south-east  corner  of  a School-house  lot. 
An  original  milestone  was  never  known.  5 Sept.,  1881. 

Milestone  223  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  south 
edge  of  thick  woods,  north  side  of  State  Line  Road,  upon  an 
easterly  slope  toward  Herrick  Run,  a short  distance  east  of  the 
summit  between  two  branches  of  that  stream,  3978  feet  West  of  a 
highway  monument  standing  beside  Herrick  Run,  at  the  west  side 
of  a new  road  leading  to  French  Creek.  The  existence  of  an 
original  milestone  is  unknown.  5 Sept.,  1884. 

A highway  monument  set  with  its  top  flush  with  the  surface  of 
the  ground  in  the  wagon  track  of  the  State  Line  Road,  stands  in  the 
meridian  of  Astronomical  Station  Clark,  6932  feet  North  from  the 
center  of  the  Station,  and  about  984  feet  East  of  Milestone  224. 
The  latitude  of  this  monument  as  deduced  from  the  observations  at 
this  Station  in  1877  is  42°  00'  01". 47.  6 Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  224  is  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  north  side 
of  the  wagon  track  of  the  State  Line  Road,  upon  the  second  sum- 
mit East  of  the  valley  of  French  Creek.  The  existence  of  an 
original  monument  is  unknown.  9 Sept.,  1884. 

*“40  Chain  Post;  Beech  16"  d.  N 45°  E.,  6 links;  Cherry  24"  d.  N 41°  W.,  8 
links.” 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


33 


258 


[Senate 


The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Wayne  and  Amity  in  Erie  County, 
Penn.,  is  marked  by  a highway  monument  set  with  its  top  flush  with 
the  surface  of  the  ground  in  the  wagon  track  of  the  State  Line 
Road,  upon  a steep  westerly  slope,  3768  feet  East  of  the  monument 
at  the  South-west  Corner  of  New  York.  6 Sept.,  1884. 

The  last  seven  monuments  are  set  in  line  between  the  5£  M.  P. 
monument  and  the  monument  at  the  South-west  Corner  of  New 
York. 

The  intersection  of  the  Parallel  and  Meridian  Boundaries  at  the 
South-west  Corner  of  New  York  is  marked  by  a small  monument 
with  diagonal  grooves,  set  with  its  top  flush  with  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  in  the  wagon  track  of  the  State  Line  Road,  upon  level 
ground,  at  the  foot  of  a long  westerly  slope,  East  of  the  valley  of 
French  Creek ; about  4496  feet  West  of  Milestone  224,  and  825  feet 
East*  of  the  probable  position  of  original  Milestone  225.  It  is  20 
feet  South  of  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  north  side  of  the 
State  Line  Road,  and  986  feet  South  of  the  south  side  of  the  base  of 
the  Large  Terminal  Monument  standing  in  the  Meridian  Boundary. 
Replaces  a stake  which  was  set  to  replace  the  original  monument, 
which  was  broken  down.  The  latitude  of  the  “ Corner”  monument 
as  deduced  from  the  observations  at  Station  Clark  is  41°  00'  OF '.42. 
6 Sept.,  1884. 


MERIDIAN  BOUNDARY. 

The  Monuments  upon  this  Boundary  are  similar  in  all  respects  to 
those  upon  the  Parallel  Boundary.  They  are  marked.  East  side, 
“N.  Y.”;  west  side  “PA.”  None  of  the  Fourth  and  Fifth  classes 
were  set. 

The  Milestones  which  are  not  highway  monuments,  with  one  ex- 
ception, are  marked  with  the  number  on  the  north  face. 

Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y. 

A small  monument  stands  upon  the  bluff  overlooking  Lake  Erie, 
40  feet  South  of  the  site  of  the  original  Initial  Monument  of  1790; 
550  feet  North  of  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  north  side 
of  the  Lake  road,  and  about  40  feet  South  of  the  edge  of  the  bluff. 
24  Sept.,  1884. 

A large  monument  of  Quincy  Granite  was  set  in  1869,  440  feet 
south  of  the  original  Initial  Monument  of  1790.  It  was  re-adjusted 
in  alignment  26  June,  1885.  It  is  150  feet  north  of  a highway  monu- 
ment standing  upon  the  north  side  of  the  Lake  road.  The  Latitude 
and  Longitude  of  this  monument  deduced  from  the  memoranda  of 
the  United  States  Lake  Survey,  corrected  from  the  tables  contained 

! * This  distance  is  taken  from  the  resurvey  of  the  Line,  along  the  interference 

of  the  Pennsylvania  Donation  Lands,  by  Deputy  Surveyor  John  Cochran  in  1802, 
in  which  he  gives  the  distance  from  the  225  mile  Tree  to  the  “Corner”  as  50 
perches.  No  milestone  was  ever  known  at  this  point.  (See  page  120.) 


No.  71.] 


259 


in  the  Final  Report  of  that  survey,  are  — Latitude  42°  16'  05".39. 
Longitude  79°  45'  45/'.26. 

Milestone  1 is  a small  monument  standing  in  a thicket  of  saplings 
and  bushes  in  a somewhat  swampy  piece  of  woods,  849®  feet  North 
of  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  North  end  of  the  road  lead- 
ing north  from  North ville  upon  the  State  Line.  24  Sept.,  1884. 

Milestone  2 is  a small  monument  standing  in  an  open  cultivated 
field,  4438  feet  south  of  a small  monument  standing  between  the 
tracks  of  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railway.  24  Sept., 

1884. 

A Small  Monument  was  set  upon  each  bank  of  the  canyon  of 
Twenty-mile  Creek.  25  Sept.,  18b4. 

The  last  six  monuments  stand  in  line  between  the  original  Initial 
Monument  and  Milestone  3.  The  true  bearing  of  this  line  is  North 
0°  00'  08"  West. 

Milestone  3 is  a small  monument  standing  in  level  wet  ground  in 
the  bottom  of  a broad  shallow  ravine  in  cultivated  land,  about  1000 
feet  south  of  the  canyon  of  Twenty-mile  Creek.  It  replaces  the 
original  milestone,  which  was  reset  at  the  south  side  of  the  new 
monument.  25  Sept.,  1884. 

A small  plain  monument  stands  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  deep 
gorge  south  of  Milestone  3,  in  open  woods,  about  30  feet  from  the 
edge  of  the  bluff.  1938  feet  north  of  Milestone  4.  30  July, 

1885. 

Milestone  4 is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a steep  north- 
westerly slope  at  the  west  side  of  cleared  land,  and  in  a narrow  open- 
ing between  two  pieces  of  woods  on  the  east  side  of  the  Line.  It  is 
midway  between  Milestones  3 and  5,  5675  feet  north  of  a stone 
marking  a New  York  farm  corner.  30  July,  1885. 

Milestone  5 is  a small  monument  standing  at  the  point  at  which 
the  remnant  of  the  original  5 Mile  Post  was  found  in  1878,  in  cleared 
and  cultivated  land.  It  is  about  1200  feet  South  of  a highway  monu- 
ment standing  upon  the  north  side  of  road.  30  July,  1885.' 

Milestone  6 is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  level  cleared 
land,  west  side  of  the  State  Line  road,  and  43 17  feet  South  of  a 
highway  monument  standing  at  the  North-west  Corner  of  Section  84 
of  the  Town  of  Ripley.  New  York.  The  latter  monument  replaces 
a large  boulder  which  for  over  50  years  has  marked  the  section  cor- 
ner. The  new  milestone  replaces  the  original  milestone.  31  July, 
1885. 

Milestone  7 is  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the  west  side 
of  the  State  Line  Road,  upon  a south-westerly  slope,  in  cultivated 
land,  opposite  the  center  of  a private  road  leading  East  to  Charles 
Stetson’s  house,  and  1858  feet  North  of  a highway  monument  stand- 
ing at  the  South-west  corner  of  Section  64  of  the  Town  of  Mina, 
New  York.  The  original  milestone  had  been  broken  down  and 
lost.  30  July,  1885. 

Milestone  8 is  a highway,  monument  standing  in  cultivated  ground 


260 


[Senate 


on  the  west  side  of  the  State  Line  road,  645*  feet  South  of  the 
North-east  corner  of  the  Town  of  Greenfield,  Erie  Co.,  Penn., 
6352  feet  North  of  a large  boulder  which  marks  the  North- 
west corner  of  Section  02  of  the  Town  of  Mina,  N.  Y.,  and 
9507  feet  North  of  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  intersec- 
tion of  the  State  Line  road  and  the  Stage  road  from  North-East  to 
Findley’s  Lake.  The  boulder  referred  to  has  been  recognized  for 

it  was 
July, 

Milestone  9 is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the  East  line  of 
the  State  Line  road,  in  level  cleared  land,  at  the  north-easterly  edge 
of  a low  bluff,  54  feet  south  of  the  probable  site  of  the  original  9 
Mile  Post,  which  is  m low  wet  ground.  The  monument  is  about 
160  feet  south  of  Black  Brook,  a branchsof  French  Creek.  29  July, 
1S85. 

Milestone  10  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  a terrace  in  the 
steep  south-westerly  side  of  a deep  ravine.  The  monument  point 
and  probable  position  of  the  original  milestone  (one-third  of  the  dis- 
tance from  Milestone  6 to  IS)  was  in  the  bed  of  the  brook,  close  to 
the  exposed  base  of  the  caving  bluff,  and  the  monument  was  there- 
fore set  50  feet  far t her  south.  It  is  48 7 8 feet  South  of  a large  hem- 
lock marked  “N  XIII”  which  is  supposed  to  indicate  the  south- 
east corner  of  Warrant  No.  13  m the  town  of  Greenfield,  Penn. ; 
and  about  2000  feet  North  of  a highway  monument  standing  on  the 
north  side  of  the  road  leading  wrest  from  Findley’s  Lake  Post-office. 
28  July,  1885. 

Milestone  11  is  a small  monument  in  level  meadow  land,  west  of 
a Sugar-bush,  t5j  distance  from  Milestone  6 to  18,  and  781  feet 
North  of  a highway  monument  standing  at  the  north  end  of  a short 
piece  of  road  which  follows  the  State  Line  south  from  the  north- 
west corner  of  Section  50  of  the  Town  of  Mina,  N.  Y.  25  July, 
1885. 

Milestone  12  is  a small  monument,  and  replaces  a stone  which 
was  set  a long  time  ago  to  mark  the  site  of  the  original  12  Mile 
Post.  It  is  in  cultivated  land  upon  a narrow  knoll,  north  of  a shal- 
low ravine,  and  2085  feet  North  of  a highway  monument  standing 
upon  the  north  side  of  a road.  21  July,  1885. 

Milestone  13  is  a small  monument  upon  the  brink  of  the  south- 
easterly bank  of  a narrow  ravine,  west  side  of  a thick  growth  of 
saplings,  and  about  1940  feet  South  of  a highway  monument  north 
side  of  a road  at  or  near  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Greenfield  and 
Venango,  Erie  Co.,  Penn.,  and  Mina  and  French  Creek,  Chautauqua 
Co.,  N.  Y.  The  number  of  this  milestone  is  cut  upon  its  south  face. 
Its  location  is  distance  from  Milestone  12  to  18.  The  original 
milestone  was  not  found.  24  July,  1885. 

Milestone  14  is  a small  monument  standing  upon  level  ground  in 
thick  open  woods,  20  feet  North,  and  20  feet  East  of  the  channel  of 


years,  and  is  marked  on  top  with  a -f-  and  “ N W LXI1  ; 
reset  in  line  opposite  its  original  position  the  same  day.  29 
1885. 


No.  71.] 


261 


a brook  which  flows  north-westerly.  The  monument  point,  § distance 
Milestone  6 to  18,  was  found  to  be  in  the  channel  of  the  brook,  and 
the  monument  was  therefore  set  20  feet  farther  north.  The  original 
milestone  was  not  found.  27  July,  1885. 

This  milestone  and  all  the  monuments  between  it  and  Milestone 
3 are  set  in  a straight  line  drawn  from  Milestone  3 through  the 
original  6,  9 and  12  mile  points.  At  14  occurs  a deflection  to  the 
west  of  about  4k  The  monuments  south  of  this  point  being  set  in 
a line  between  Milestone  14  and  the  u Corner”  Monument. 

A small  Monument,  marked  on  the  south  face  jfp”,  is  set  oppo- 
site the  Holland  Land  Company’s  4|-  mile  point,  which  was  fixed  by 
measurement  from  the  original  witness  trees,  which  are  still  vigorous. 
(See  XIX,  Appendix  H.)  Upon  level  ground  in  thick  open  woods 
west  of  a partial  slashing,  742®  feet  South  of  Milestone  14.  27 

July,  1885. 

Milestone  15  is  a small  monument  upon  level  ground  in  the  bot- 
tom of  a deep  ravine  in  thick  open  woods,  about  6 feet  from  the 
foot  of  the  south  bluff,  and  20  feet  South  of  the  channel  of  a brook 
flowing  westerly.  The  monument  point,  J-  distance  from  Milestone 
6 to  18,  being  in  the  brook:  the  milestone  was  set  20  feet  further 
south.  The  original  milestone  was  not  found.  27  July,  1885. 

A small  monument,  marked  on  the  south  side  “M3iP”,  is  set  opposite 
the  Holland  Land  Company’s  3J  mile  point,  which  was  fixed  by  meas- 
urement from  the  original  witness  trees,  which  are  still  in  good  con- 
dition ; 744£  feet  south  of  Milestone  15,  in  open  woods  upon  ground 
sloping  slightly  toward  the  South-west.  27  July,  1885. 

A small  monument,  marked  u MV’j  is  set  opposite  the  Holland 
Land  Company’s  3 mile  point,  which  was  fixed  in  1878,  by  measure- 
ment from  the  remains  of  one  of  the  original  witness  trees.  It  is  at 
the  East  edge  of  a meadow,  a short  distance  south  of  a deep  ravine, 
and  2456  feet  north  of  a highway  monument  standing  upon  the 
south  side  of  a road.  21  July,  1885. 

Milestone  16  is  a small  monument  upon  a narrow  terrace,  near  the 
bottom  of  the  North-easterly  bank  of  a narrow  ravine,  about  9 feet 
east  of  a large  boulder  lying  upon  the  east  bank  of  brook  which 
flows  south-easterly,  in  the  midst  of  an  extensive  windfall.  The 
monument  point,  | distance  from  Milestone  6 to  18,  was  upon  the 
steep  unstable  southerly  bank  of  the  ravine,  and  the  monument  was 
therefore  set  40  feet  farther  North,  and  1574  feet  South  of  the  high- 
way monument  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph.  22  July, 
1885. 

A small  monument,  marked  on  the  south  side  “ M2P”,  is  set  opposite 
the  Holland  Land  Company’s  2 mile  point,  which  was  fixed  by 
measurement  from  the  original  witness  trees,  both  dead.  It  is  upon 
the  steep  south-westerly  side  of  a short,  narrow  ravine  crossing  the 
line  toward  the  South-east ; in  thick  open  woods,  1794  feet  north  of 
Milestone  17.  21  July,  1885. 

Milestone  17  is  a small  monument  in  the  south  edge  of  thick 
woods,  distance  from  Milestone  6 tc^  18,  135  feet  south  of  the 


262 


[Senate 


summit  of  the  ridge,  and  about  50  feet  north  of  the  top  of  a steep 
bluff,  north  side  of  the  valley  of  the  east  branch  of  French  Creek, 
and  about  1300  feet  north  of  the  creek.  21  July,  1885. 

Milestone  18  is  a small  monument  T6¥67  mile  North  of  the  South- 
west Corner  of  New  York,  in  the  east  edge  of  a clearing,  upon  level 
ground  just  north  of  thick  open  woods.  The  original  monument 
was  not  found.  21  July,  1885. 

A large  monument  similar  to  that  set  upon  the  right  bank  of  the 
Delaware  River,  marked  “100  feet  north  of  the  S.  W.  Corner  of 
New  York,”  is  set  in  the  meridian  of  the  “ Corner”  monument, 
which  is  988  feet  south  from  the  South  side  of  its  base.  8 Sept., 
1884. 


CERTIFICATE. 

I hereby  certify  that  the  preceding  schedule,  entitled  “ Appendix 
B,”  contains  accurate  descriptions  of  all  the  Milestones,  and  seventy- 
six  other  granite  monuments  erected  by  me  upon  and  adjacent 
to  the  Boundary  line  between  the  States  of  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, under  the  direction  of  the  Joint  Boundary  Commission,  in  the 
years  1881,  1882,  1883,  1884,  and  1885,  together  with  the  locations 
of  the  same,  the  manner  in  which  they  were  set,  and  the  dates  of 
erection,  all  of  which  are  described  and  contained  in  the  official 
“ Record  of  Monuments,”  which  is  deposited  in  the  Office  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  of  New  York,  and  the  Office  of  the  Secretary  of 
Internal  Affairs  of  Pennsylvania. 

And  I further  certify  that  in  addition  to  the  monuments  described 
in  the  preceding  schedule,  there  were  erected  by  me,  under  the  same 
direction,  and  in  the  same  years  aforesaid,  other  granite  monuments, 
as  follows,  to-wit:  — Two  hundred  and  twenty-five  highway  monu- 
ments, standing  at  or  upon  the  sides  of  public  roads;  twenty-seven 
monuments  set  at  the  intersections  of  rail-roads ; thirteen  monuments 
set  to  mark  the  Astronomical  .Stations  of  the  United  States  Coast 
and  Geodetic  Survey  adjacent  to  said  Boundary  line,  occupied  in  the 
years  187T  and  1879,  descriptions  of  which  may  be  found  in  Ap- 
pendix D hereto  attached;  and  three  other  monuments  ; the  locations 
of  which,  the  manner  in  which  they  were  set,  and  the  dates  of  their 
erection,  are  given  in  detail  in  the  official  “ Record  of  Monuments  ” 
aforesaid. 

And  I further  certify  that  the  total  number  of  new  granite  monu- 
ments thus  set  by  me  upon  said  Boundary  is  five  hundred  andi  eighty- 
six,  including  in  said  number  the  monument  erected  near  the  shore 
of  Lake  Erie  in  1869,  which  was  reset. 

H.  W.  CLARKE,  Civil  Engineer , 
Surveyor  on  the  part  of  New  York,  and  Engineer 
in  charge  of  Field  work . 

Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  1 Dec.,  1885. 


No.  71.] 


263 


APPENDIX  C. 


Table  of  Angular  Deflections  at  each  Milestone  in  the  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania  Boundary. 

The  angle  given  in  the  last  column  being  the  deflection  of  the 
Line  connecting  the  given  milestone  with  the  next  angle  west,  to 
the  North  (-{-)  or  South  ( — ) from  the  line  connecting  it  with  the 
preceding  angle. 

The  table  is  arranged  by  Counties  in  New  York. 

The  distances  given  in  the  Second  Column  are  those  from  point 
to  point;  those  in  the  third  column  are  the  consecutive  distances 
from  the  eastern  limit  of  the  County. 

By  reference  to  Appendix  E,  the  limit  of  each  County  in  Penn- 
sylvania may  readily  be  fixed. 

Delaware  County. 

Station  Travis,  1425  feet  East  of  center  of  Delaware  River. 


Broome  County. 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  West 
from  center  of 
Delaware  River 

Deflection 

Angle. 

l 

New  Initial  Monument 

600 

600  " 

-i 

i 

Milestone  1 

4826 

5426 

! Curve 

2 

5229 

10655 

3 (old) 

5271 

1386 

15926 

>■ 

; slightly 
north. 

3 (new) 

17312 

1 

4 

3810 

21122 J 

! 

5 

5359 

26481 

— 0°  05' 

6 

5299 

31780 

37131 

_p  0 16 

7 

5351 

— 0 09 

8 

5383 

42514 

none. 

9 

5383 

47897 

-j-  slight 
+ 0°  09' 
— 0 04 

10 

5383 

53;!  80 

11 

5343 

58623 

12 

5150 

63773 

none. 

East  River  Monu'ment 

3670 

472 

67443  ] 

i 

jog  to  couth 

West  do  do  

67915  < 

1 

across  River. 

— 0°  04' 

Milestone  13 

1698 

69613 

none. 

14 

5505 

75118 

none. 

15  

5495 

80613 

— 0°  11' 

16 

5391 

86004 

+ 0 09 
— 0 12 

17 

5436 

91440 

264 


[Senate 


Broome  County  — Continued. 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  West 
from  center  of 
Delaware  River 

Deflection 

Angle. 

Milestone  18 

5436 

96876 

none. 

19 

5436 

102312 

none. 

20 

5367 

107679 

none. 

Station  Finn 

794 

108473 

none. 

201  

1150 

109623 

none. 

First  Latitude  Stone 

l3 

1096243 

-f-  0°  30' 

21 

33921 

113017 

+ 0 30 

22 

5341 

118358 

none. 

23 

5300 

123658 

+ 0°  12' 

24 

5359 

129017 

none. 

25 

5358 

134375 

none. 

26 

5359 

139734 

— 0°18' 

27 

5360 

145094 

none. 

28 

5299 

150393 

— 0°  13' 

29 

5307 

155709 

none. 

30 . .. 

5307 

161007 

none. 

31 

5307 

166314 

© 

0 

o 

1 

32 

5307 

171621 

none. 

33 

5307 

176928 

— 0°  08' 

34 

5540 

382268 

none. 

35  

5320 

187588 

— 0°  15' 

36 

5330 

192918 

none. 

37 

5312 

198230 

none. 

County  Corner 

4501 

202731 

none. 

Tioga  County. 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  from 
S.  W.  Cor.  of 
Broome  Co. 

Deflection 

Angle. 

Milestone  38 

812 

812 

none. 

do 

39 

5312 

6124 

+ 0°  13' 
none. 

( do 

394 

2658 

8782 

i Station  Tattle  Meadows..  

Milestone 

40 

2658 

11440 

+ 0°11' 
— 0 16 

do 

41 

5361 

16801 

do 

42 

5313 

22114 

none. 

do 

43 

5461 

27575 

+ 0 12' 
+ 0 04 
+ 0 16 
— 0 14 

do 

44 

5392 

32967 

do 

45 

5392 

38359 

do 

46 

5388 

43747 

do 

47 

5388 

49135 

+ 0 09 
+ 0 12 
+ 0 06 
— 0 04 

do 

48 

5401 

54536 

do 

49 

5376 

59912 

<*Q 

do 

50 

5359 

65271 

5 1 

5408 

70679 

+ 0 01 

No.  71.] 


265 


Tioga  County  — Continued. 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  from 
S.  W.  Cor.  of 
Broome  Co. 

Deflection 

Angle. 

Milestone 

52 

5381 

76060 

+ 0 07' 

do 

53 

5372 

81432 

— 0 12 

do 

54 

5440 

86872 

-fO  29 

do 

55- 

5417 

92289 

4-0  21 

do 

56 

5352 

97641 

none. 

do 

57 

5352 

102993 

4-  0°  08' 

do 

58 

5394 

108387 

4-0  03 

do 

59 

5187 

113574 

— 0 08 

Station  Waverly 

4419 

117993 

none. 

Milestone 

60. ..  

861 

118854 

+, slight. 

do 

60# 

3995 

122849 

none. 

Spanish  Hills  Monument 

15 

122864 

— 0°  44' 

Milestone  60-§ 

596 

123460 

none. 

Left  bank  Chemung  River 

25  ± 

123485 

Chemung  County. 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  West 
from  left  bank 
Chemung  River 

Deflection 

Angle. 

Milestone  61  fnewl 

565 

565 

none. 

do 

61  (old) 

132 

697 

4-0°  28' 
4-0  14 
none. 

do 

62 

5287 

5984 

do 

63 

5316 

11300 

do 

64 

5287 

16587 

none. 

do 

65 

5298 

21885 

-f  slight. 
4-0°  17' 
— 0 31 

do 

66 

5178 

27063 

do 

6? 

5291 

32354 

do 

68 

5122 

37476 

42765 

-j-  0 02  i 
4-0  13 
none. 

do 

69 

5289 

Station  Rnrt 

4022 

46787 

Milestone 

70 

1258 

48045 

none. 

do 

71 

5154 

53199 

— 0° 17' 

do 

72 

5305 

58504 

— 0 C4 

do 

73 

5248 

63752 

— 0 09 

do 

74 

5285 

69037 

4-0  12 
— 0 25 

do 

75  (old) 

5316 

74353 

do 

75  (new) 

33 

74386 

none. 

do 

76 

5271 

79657 

none. 

do 

77 

5304 

84961 

none. 

do 

78 

5304 

90265 

— 0°  20' 

do 

79 

5179 

95444 

— 0 16 

do 

80 

5206 

100650 

— 0 09 

do 

81 

5308 

105958 

4-0  01 
-f-O  15 

do 

82 

5268 

111226 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


34 


266 


[Senate 


Steuben  County. 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  West 
from  Milestone 
82. 

Deflection 

Angle. 

Milestone 

83 

5338 

5338 

none. 

do 

84 

5338 

10676 

none. 

do 

85 

5337 

16013 

none. 

do 

86 

5337 

21350 

+ 0 03' 
none. 

do 

87 

5280 

26630 

do 

88 ; 

5320 

31950 

— 0°  03' 

do 

89 

5330 

37280 

+ 0 50 
— 0 30 

A Titular  Point * 

3551 

40831 

Milestone 

do 

90 

1809 

42640 

none. 

91 

5287 

47927 

+ 0 07' 
4-0  36 
— 0 22 

do 

92 

5324 

53251 

do 

93 

5272 

58523 

do 

94 

5331 

63854 

none. 

do 

95 

5280 

69134 

4-0  04' 
+ 0 28 
— 0 16 

do 

96 

5349 

74483 

do 

97 

5281 

79764 

do 

98 

5231 

84995 

none. 

do 

99 

5231 

90226 

4-0°  11' 
none. 

do 

100 

5270 

95496 

do 

101 

5270 

100766 

4-  0 05' 
none. 

do 

102 

5322 

106088 

do 

103 

5322 

111410 

4-0°  07' 
— 0 22 

do 

104 

5303 

116713 

do 

105 

5325 

122038 

4-0  li 
— 0 08 

do 

106 

5275 

5285 

127313 

do 

107 

132598 

none. 

do 

108 

5281 

137879 

— 0°11' 

do 

109 

5495 

143374 

none. 

An  collar  Point 

2380 

145754 

— 0°  05' 

Station  Austinburg 

782 

146536 

none. 

Mil  Aston  ft  110 ... 

2126 

148662 

— 0°  24' 

do 

Ill 

5320 

153982 

none. 

do 

112 

5321 

159303 

4-  0°  06' 
— 0 02 

do 

do 

do 

113 

5330 

164633 

114 

5334 

169967 

4-0  07 
4-0  20 
4-0  03 
— 0 59 

115 

5310 

175277 

do 

do 

do 

116 

5320 

180597 

117 

5339 

185936 

118 

5293 

191229 

none. 

do 

do 

do 

119. 

5378 

196607 

— 0 05' 

120 

5350 

201957 

+ 0 44 

121 

5356 

207313 

— 0 07 

do 

Corner  of 

122 

5361 

212674 

4-0  04 
none. 

Allegany  Co 

699® 

213373® 

No.  n.] 


267 


Allegany  County. 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  West 
from  Steuben 
County. 

Deflection 

Angle. 

Milestone 

123 

4653 

4653 

none. 

do 

124 

5352 

10005 

— 0°  14' 

do 

125 

5347 

15352 

none. 

do 

126 

5350 

20702 

+ 0 34' 
— 0 10 

do 

127 

5350 

26052 

do 

128 

5338 

31390 

— 0 02 

Station  (renesee  Valiev. 

4202 

35592 

none. 

Milestone 

129 *1 

1105 

36697 

+ 0°  12' 
-j-0  25 
-j-  0 05 
+ 0 20 
none. 

do 

130 

5332 

42029 

do 

131 

5296 

47325 

do 

132 

5296 

52621 

do 

133 

5284 

57905 

do 

134 

5289 

63194 

+ 0 16' 
+ 0 31 
— >0  15 

do 

135 

5332 

68526 

do 

136 

5302 

73828 ' 

do 

Milestone 

136f.  6th  Latitude  Stone.. 
137 

3288 

1899 

77116. 

79015 

+ 0 53 
+ 0 15 
+ 0 04 
none. 
+ 0°  32' 
— 1 06 

do 

138 

5244 

84259 

Holland  Land  Company’s  Corner  Stone 
Milestone  189 

3958 

1149 

88217 

89366 

do 

140 

5286 

94652 

do 

141 

5304 

99956 

— 0 49 

do 

142 

5321 

105277 

none. 

do 

143 

5285 

110562 

none. 

do 

144 

5303 

115865 

— 1°  26' 

do 

145 

5313 

121178 

+ 1 33 
none. 

do 

146 

5281 

126459 

do 

147 

5281 

131740 

none. 

Section  Corner 

4350 

136090 

none. 

Milestone 

148 

932 

137022 

— 0°  20' 
none. 

Station  Ceres 

5200 

142222 

Milestone 

149 

108 

142330 

+ 0°  40' 
+ 0 34 
none. 

do 

150 

5310 

147640 

Corner  of  Cattaranoms  Co 

4267 

151907 

Cattaraugus  County. 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  West 
from  S.  W.  cor- 
ner of  Alle- 
gany County. 

Deflection 

Angle. 

Milestone 

151 

1043 

1043 

— 0°01' 

do 

152 

5389 

6432 

+ 0 23 

do 

153 

5018 

11450 

— 0 37 

268 


[Senate 


Cattakaugus  County  — ( Continued ). 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  West 
from  S.  W cor- 
ner of  Alle- 
gany County. 

Deflection 

Angle. 

Milestone 

154 

5475 

16925 

-j-  slight 

do 

155 

5319 

22244 

+ 0°  09' 

do 

156 

5244 

27488 

+ 0 05 

do 

157 

5236 

32724 

— 0 23 

do 

158 

5271 

37995 

none. 

do 

159 

5271 

43266 

none. 

do 

160 

5216 

48482 

-f  0°  35' 

do 

161 

5240 

53722 

— 0 40 

do 

162 

5174 

58896 

— 0 12 

do 

163 

5310 

64206 

+ 0 12 

do 

164 

5263 

69469 

+ 0 23 

do 

165 

5203 

74672 

+ 0 16 

do 

166 

5258 

79930 

none. 

do 

167 

5259 

85189 

none. 

do 

167* 

5266 

857156 

none. 

Seventh  Latitude  Stone 

1* 

85717 

— 1°  41' 

Station  Tuna  Valley 

1 

85718 

none. 

Milestone 

168 

4756 

90474 

— slight. 

do 

169 

5305 

95779 

none. 

do 

170 

5306 

101085 

none. 

Transit  Meridian  Monument 

4483 

105568 

none. 

Milestone 

171 

548 

106116 

-f  0°  58' 

do 

172 

5461 

111577 

+ 0 04 

Willink  Corner 

1539 

113116 

none. 

Milestone 

173 

3933 

117049 

— 0°12' 

do 

174 

5501 

122550 

+ 0 09 

do 

175 

5453 

128003 

+ 0 21 

do 

176 

5357 

133360 

+ 0 02 

do 

177 

5265 

138625 

— 0 21 

do 

178 

5265 

143890 

— 0 13 

do 

179 

5300 

149190 

+ 0 30 

do 

180 

5407 

154597 

+ 0 40 

do 

181 

5513 

160110 

+ 0 44 

do 

182 

5448 

165558 

— 0 01 

do 

183 

5398 

170956 

— 0 09 

do 

184.  Station  Corydon 

5349 

176305 

none. 

Milestone 

185 

5232 

181537 

— 0°25' 

do 

186 

5467 

187004 

none. 

do 

187 

5353 

192357 

none. 

do 

188 

5354 

197711 

+ 0°  07' 

do 

189 

5475 

203186 

-0  26 

Corner  of  Chautauqua  Co 

1380 

204566 

tione. 

Chautauqua  County. 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

Distance. 

Distance  West 
from  S.  W cor- 
ner of  Catta- 
raugus County. 

Deflection 

Angle. 

Milestone 

190 

4095 

4095 

none. 

do 

191 

5370 

9405 

— 0°  13' 

uo 

192 

5371 

14836 

— 0 19 

do 

5600 

20436 

none. 

do 

194 

5965 

26401 

+ 0°  27' 

do 

195 

5382 

31783 

none. 

do 

1954 

6581 

32441 1 

none. 

Eighth  Latitude  Stone  . . . 

l9 

32443 

— 0C  59' 

Milestone 

196... 

4620 

37003 

none. 

do 

197.. 

5305 

42368 

none. 

do 

198 

5336 

47704 

none. 

do 

199 

5337 

53041 

+ 0°  58' 

do 

200 

5389 

58430 

— 0 11 

do 

201 

5314 

63744 

none. 

do 

202 

5299 

69043 

none. 

do 

203 

5299 

74342 

i 

o 

0 

O 

Station  Sugar  Grove 

2076 

76418 

none. 

Milestone 

204 

3280 

79698 

-f  0°  06' 

do 

205 

5327 

85025 

— 0 03 

do 

206 

5417 

90442 

none. 

do 

207 

5277 

95719 

-j-  0°  22' 

do 

208 

5343 

101062 

— 0 06 

do 

209 

5310 

106372 

none. 

do 

210 

5311 

111683 

none. 

do 

211 

5318 

117001 

-f  0°  25' 

do 

212 .... 

5310 

122311 

+ 0 04 

do 

213 

5304 

127615 

none. 

do 

214 

5305 

132920 

none. 

do 

215 

5304 

138224 

+ 0°  16' 

do 

216 

5305 

143529 

none. 

do 

217 

5304 

148833 

none. 

do 

218 

6305 

154138 

— 0°  10' 

do 

219 

5304 

159442 

— 0 06 

do 

220 

5329 

164771 

none. 

do 

221 

5323 

170094 

none. 

do 

222 

5321 

175415 

none. 

do 

223 

5321 

180736 

none. 

Station  Clark 

4337 

185073 

none. 

Milestone 

224 

984 

186057 

none. 

“ Corner” 

4496 

190553 

Angle  at  “ Corner”  between  Parallel  and  Meridian,  89°  52'  (from  the  East). 


270 


[Senate 


Meridian  Boundary. 
Chautauqua  County . 


MILESTONES,  Etc. 

[Distance. 

Disfce  S.  from 
Original  Initial 
Monum’nt  1790. 

Deflection 

Angle 

(West—.) 

Milestone  0 

40 

40 

none. 

Initial  Monument,  1869 

400 

440 

none. 

Milestone 

1 

4828 

5268 

none. 

do 

2 

5268 

10536 

none. 

do 

3 

5268 

15804 

— slight 

do 

4- 

5241 

21045 

none. 

do 

5 

5241 

26286 

none. 

do 

6 

5279 

31565 

none. 

do 

7 

52832 

36848 

none. 

do 

8 

52832 

42131 

none. 

do 

9 

5323 2 

47455 

none. 

do 

10 

52932 

52748 

none. 

do 

11 

52332 

57981 

none. 

do 

12, 

52832 

63264 

none. 

do 

13 

5283 2 

68547 

none. 

do 

14 

5243 2 

73791 

none. 

14  Mile  Point 

20 

73811 

~0°04'+ 

Milestone 

15 

53232 

79134 

none. 

do 

16 

52232 

84357 

none. 

do 

17 

53232 

89680 

none. 

do 

18 

52832 

94963 

none. 

Large  Terminal  Monument. 

3385 

98348 

none. 

“ Corner” 

100 

98448 

Total  chain  correction 

-j-  85 

No.  71.] 


271 


APPENDIX  D. 


Astronomical  Stations  occupied  by  the  party  from  the  United 
States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey  Office  in  1877  and  1879. 


At  all  .the  Stations,  the  Observer  was  Assistant  Edwin  Smith,  IT.  S.  C.  & G.  S.  In  1877 
he  was  assisted  by  Sub-Assistant  J.  B.  Baylor  as  Recorder,  and  in  1879  by  Sub-Assistant  F. 
H.  ParsoDS. 


No.  1.  Station  Travis. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  July,  1877.  At  that  time,  the  land 
was  owned  by  Squire  Travis;  now,  by  John  Hills.  The  Station  is 
situated  in  the  Town  of  Hancock,  Delaware  County,  New  York,  upon 
a knoll,  50  feet  north  of  a highway,  about  2 miles  below  (East  of) 
the  village  of  Hale’s  Eddy,  and  about  200  feet  north-easterly,  at  right 
angles,  from  the  New  York,  Lake  Erie,  and  Western  Kail  Road, 
above  the  flats  on  the  north-easterly  side  of  the  Delaware  River. 
A brick  pier  was  built  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  - a random  line 
run  east  (S.  83°  20  E.  magnetic)  with  the  Compass  from  Milestone 
5,  in  June,  1877.  The  pier  was  removed  12  April,  1884,  and  a 
granite  monument,  (fifth  class — see  Appendix  B),  was  buried  upon 
its  site  at  a depth  of  25  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The 
cap-stone  of  the  Pier  was  bedded  upon  the  surface  over  the  monu- 
ment.* The  center  of  the  Station  is  46297  feet  South  39°  36' 
East  (true)  from  the  most  southerly  corner  of  the  foundation  of  the 
main  part  of  John  Hills  house.  Upon  a rock  above  high-water 
mark  on  the  right  bank  of  the  River,  in  the  Meridian  of  the  Station, 
a mark  was  cut  in  1S77.  A granite  monument  (fourth  class)  was  set 
12  April,  1884,  upon  the  north  side  of  the  higlrway,  in  the  meridian 
of  the  Station  at  its  intersection  with  the  eastward  prolongation  of 
the  Parallel  Boundary,  816  feet  South  of  the  Station.  This  monu- 
ment is  14255  feet  East  of  the  intersection  of  the  Boundary  with  the 
center  of  the  Delaware  River ; 20  255  feet  East  of  the  large  Initial 
Monument  standing  upon  the  right  bank  of  the  River;  and  6851 
feet  East  of  Milestone  1. 

The  following  are  the  final  results  from  the  Astronomical  Obser- 
vations at  the  Station. 

Latitude  42°  00'  02".66±  0".14  North. 

Longitude  (Time)  5h  01m  25s. 5. 

do  (Arc)  75°  2P  22  '.5  West  from  Greenwich. 

The  direction  of  the  Boundary  west  from  the  meridian  of  this 
Station  is  South  89°  48' 4-  West  (true). 

*Upon  7 August,  1885,  the  cap-stone  was  found  to  have  been  removed,  and  the 
filling  over  the  monument  partly  dug  out,  by  parties  unknown. 


272 


f Senate 


No.  2.  Station  Finn. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  August  aud  September,  1877.  It  is 
situated  upon  the  land  of  James  Finn,  upon  the  River  flats,  in  the 
Town  of  Kirkwood,  Broome  County,  New  York,  about  two  miles 
north-west  of  the  Borough  of  Great  Bend,  Susquehanna  County, 
Penn.  A brick  pier,  capped  with  a marble  slab,  was  built  in  the 
north-west  corner  of  Mr.  Finn’s  garden  near  the  east  side  of  the 
Iiiver  Road.  The  Pier  was  removed  10  April,  1884,  and  a Station 
Monument  buried  in  its  place.  The  upper  part  of  the  pier  was  re- 
placed upon  the  surface  above  the  monument,  and  a granite  monu- 
ment (third  class)  was  set  in  the  meridian  near  the  South  side  of  a 
stone  wall,  650’  feet  north.  The  center  of  the  Station  is  976  feet 
North  43°  14'  West  (true)  from  the  westerly  corner  of  the  founda- 
tion of  Mr.  Finn’s  dwelling;  it  is  256s  feet  North  and  1423  feet 
west  from  a granite  highway  monument  standing  upon  the  easterly 
side  of  the  River  Road  6544  feet  West  of  Milestone  20  and  257® 
feet  East  of  a railroad  monument  between  the  tracks  of  the  New 
York,  Lake  Erie,  and  Western  Railroad  ; and  it  is  2718  feet  North, 
and  1 14 L feet  East,  of  the  old  First  Latitude  Stone  at  20f  miles. 

The  following  are  the  final  results  from  the  Astronomical  Observa- 
tions at  this  Station : — 

Latitude  41°  59'  59,,.38±0".ll  North. 

Longitude  (Time)  5h  03m  02s.  09, 

do  (Arc)  75°  45'  3L '.  35  West  from  Greenwich. 

The  direction  of  the  Boundary  opposite  this  Station  is  South  89° 
22'  West  (true). 


No.  3.  Station  Little  Meadows. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  September,  1879.  It  is  situated 
upon  the  land  of  Preserved  Hinds  in  the  Town  of  Owego,  Tioga 
County,  New  York,  about  a half  mile  north  of  the  Post-office  of 
Little  Meadows,  Penn.  Upon  a low  bluff  about  75  feet  east  of  the 
channel  of  Jones  Creek,  and  458®  feet  East  of  a granite  highway 
monument  standing  upon  the  easterly  side  of  the  Stage  road  from 
Little  Meadows  to  Apalachin,  N.  Y.  The  pier,  which  was  a section 
of  a hemlock  log,  was  removed  18  April,  1884,  and  a Station  monu- 
ment buried  in  its  place. 

The  center  of  the  Station  is  241  feet  north  of  Milestone  39j-,  which 
stands  in  the  meridian  of  the  Station  midway  between  Milestones 
39  and  40. 

A granite  monument  (third  class)  was  set,  12  Sept.,  1883  in  the 
meridian  of  the  Station  1760  ± feet  North.  The  center  of  the  Station 
is  57031  feet  North  38°  39J'  West  (true),  from  the  south-west  corner 
of  the  foundation  of  the  main  part  of  Mr.  Hinds’  house ; and  2” 
feet  north  of  Milestone  10. 

The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa- 
tions at  this  Station, 


No.  71.] 


273 


Latitude  41°  59'  59".95±0."12  North. 

No  observations  were  taken  for  Longitude. 

The  direction  of  the  Boundary  at  this  Station  is  North  89°  59  J' 
West  (true). 


No.  4.  Station  Waverly. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  August,  1879.  It  is  situated  in  the 
village  of  Waverly,  Tioga  County,  New  York,  115  feet  East  of  Penn- 
sylvania Avenue  and  about  9J-  feet  North  of  the  Boundary,  upon 
land  owned  bv  John  H.  Murray.  The  pier,  which  was  of  brick,  had 
been  removed,  but  the  center  of  the  Station  was  found  by  reference 
to  Milestone  60  and  a village  monument  in  the  east  line  of  Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue,  by  means  of  notes  taken  in  October,  1879,  and  a 
Station  monument  was  buried  upon  its  site  19  April,  1884. 

The  center  of  the  Station  is  7083  feet,  North  48°  39'  East  (true) 
from  the  north-westerly  corner  of  Mr.  Murray’s  dwelling ; it  is  146 
feet  East  and  735  feet  North  of  a granite  highway  monument  on  the 
west  side  of  Pennsylvania  Avenue ; and  8608  feet  East  and  l95  feet 
South  of  Milestone  60. 

The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa- 
tions at  this  Station:  — 

Latitude  42°  00'  00". 69  + 0".ll  North. 

No  observations  were  taken  for  Longitude. 

The  direction  of  the  Boundary  opposite  this  Station  is  North  89° 
15'  West  (true). 


No.  5.  Station  Burt. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  August,  1877.  It  is  situated  upon 
the  flats  about  800  feet  East  of  Bentley  Creek,  in  the  town  of 
Ridgebury,  Bradford  County,  Penn.,  upon  the  land  of  David  A. 
Burt,  about  35  feet  west  of  the  Creek  Road,  about  one  mile  South 
of  the  village  of  Wellsburg,  Chemung  County,  New  York.  The 
brick  pier  was  removed  2L  April,  1884,  and  a Station  monument 
buried  upon  its  site.  The  upper  part  of  the  pier  was  replaced  upon 
the  surface  above  the  monument,  and  a granite  monument  (third 
class)  was  set  in  the  meridian  of  the  Station  1779  feet  South. 

The  center  of  the  Station  is  101  feet  east  of  the  North-east  corner 
of  Mr.  Burt’s  blacksmith  shop;  597  feet,  North  45°  16' West  (true) 
from  an  elm  tree  36"  diameter,  standing  at  the  west  side  of  the  road  ; 
and  4411  feet  south  and  402  feet  East  of  a granite  highway  monu- 
ment standing  in  the  Boundary  at  the  east  side  of  the  road,  4062  feet 
west  of  Milestone  69. 

The  following  are  the  final  results  from  the  Astronomical  obser- 
vations at  this  Station:  — 

Latitude  42°  00'  03"59  ± 0".12  North. 

Longitude  (Time)  5h  06m  54®.  61. 

do  (Arc)  76°  43'  39".  15  West  from  Greenwich. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  35 


274  [Senate 

The  direction  of  the  Boundary  opposite  this  Station  is  North  89° 
18'  West  (true). 

No.  6.  Station  Lawrenceville. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  September  1879.  It  is  situated  upon 
the  flats  between  the  Tioga  and  Cowanesqua  Rivers,  in  the  Town  of 
Bindley,  Steuben  County,  New  York,  just  north  of  the  village  of 
Lawrenceville,  Tioga  County,  Pennsylvania,  upon  the  land  of  Joel 
Parkhurst,  deceased. 

The  pier,  which  was  a section  of  a hemlock  log,  was  removed  and 
a Station  monument  was  buried  in  its  place  22  April,  1884.  The 
center  of  the  Station  is  845  feet  north  and  218  feet  west  of  new  Mile- 
stone 90,  which  was  set  in  1883  at  the  east  side  of  the  original  mile- 
stone, and  is  about  1200  feet  East  of  Main  Street. 

The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa- 
tions at  this  Station : — 

Latitude  42°  00'  01M2  ± 0".14  North. 

No  observations  were  taken  for  Longitude  at  this  Station. 

No.  7.  Station  Austinbttrg. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  September  1879.  It  is  situated  upon 
the  flats,  165  feet  north-west  of  Hilltown  Creek  and  800  feet  west 
of  Troup’s  Creek  upon  the  land  of  H.  B.  Murdock,  in  the  Town  of 
Brookfield,  Tioga  County  Penn.,  at  the  south-west  side  of  the  stage 
road  about  three-fourths  of  a mile  north-west  of  Austinburg  Post- 
office. 

The  pier,  which  was  a section  of  a whitewood  log,  was  removed  23 
April,  1884,  and  a Station  monument  buried  in  its  place. 

The  center  of  the  Station  is  3.2  feet  south  and  126  feet  west  from 
a granite  highway  monument  standing  in  the  south-west  side  of  the 
stage  road,  2138  feet  East  of  Milestone  110. 

The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa- 
tions at  this  Station  : — 

Latitude  42°  00'  01". 35  ± 0".ll  North. 

No  observations  were  taken  for  Longitude  at  this  Station. 

No.  8.  Station  Genesee  Yallet. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  September  1879.  It  is  situated 
upon  a high  bluff  on  the  west  side  of  the  valley  of  Genesee  River, 
above  the  river  flats,  upon  the  land  of  William  Cobb  in  the  Town 
of  Willing,  Allegany  County,  New  York,  about  30  feet  west  of 
the  stage  road,  about  If  miles  South-east  of  the  village  of  Shongo, 
and  about  a half-mile  west  of  the  Genesee  River. 

The  pier,  which  was  a section  of  a hemlock  log,  was  removed  26 
April,  1884,  and  a Station  monument  buried  in  its  place. 

The  center  of  the  Station  is  53®  feet  North  and  744  feet  West 


275 


No.  71.] 

of  a granite  highway  monument  standing  in  the  south-westerly  side 
of  the  stage  road  11803  feet  East  of  Milestone  129. 

The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa- 
tions at  this  Station  : — 

Latitude  41°  59'  58".29  ± 0".13  North. 

No  observations  were  taken  for  Longitude  at  this  Station. 

No.  9.  Station  Ceres. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  September,  1879.  It  is  situated 
upon  the  land  of  Campfield  upon  the  Oswayo  Flats,  in  the  Town  of 
Genesee,  Allegany  County,  New  York,  north  of  Main  Street,  near 
the  south-east  corner  of  the  School-house  lot,  opposite  the  Cemetery 
and  about  1050  feet  West  of  the  Post-office  in  the  village  of  Ceres. 

The  pier,  which  was  a section  of  a hemlock  log,  was  removed  2 
Mav,  1^84,  and  a Station  monument  buried  in  its  place. 

The  center  of  the  Station  is  5657  feet  North  and  1069  feet  East 
from  Milestone  149  which  is  a highway  monument  standing  in  the 
south  line  of  Main  Street;  it  is  also  125a  feet  South  42°  43'  East 
(magnetic,  1884)  from  the  south-east  corner  of  the  school-house. 

The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa- 
tions at  this  Station  : — 

Latitude  41°  59'  59".21±  0".13  North. 

No  observations  were  taken  for  Longitude  at  this  Station. 

No.  10.  Station  Tuna  Yalley. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  September  and  October,  1S79.  It 
is  situated  on  the  Tuna  Flats  upon  the  land  of  William  Beardsley  in 
the  Town  of  Carrolton,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  about 
250  feet  west  of  Tunaunguant  Creek,  about  l5  miles  South  of  the 
village  of  Limestone,  New  York. 

The  pier,  which  was  a section  of  a hemlock  log,  was  removed  25 
June,  1884,  and  a Station  monument  buried  in  its  place.  The  cen- 
ter of  the  Station  is  86a  feet  north  and  098  foot  west  from  Milestone 
1 677V>  which  stands  at  the  east  side  of  the  old  Seventh  Latitude 
Stone,  about  40  feet  North  of  Iron  tank  No.  637,  United  Pipe 
Lines. 

The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa- 
tions at  this  Station: — 

Latitude  42°  00  '04".18±  0".12  North. 

No  observations  were  made  for  Longitude  at  this  Station. 

The  direction  of  the  Boundary  East  of  this  Station  is  South 
89°  40'  East  (true)  ; and  west , South  87°  39'  West  (true). 

No.  11.  Station  Corydon. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  October,  1879.  It  is  situated  in  the 
Town  of  South  Yalley,  Cattaraugus  County,  upon  land  belonging 
to  the  Allegany  Indian  Reservation,  but  occupied  by  P and  D 


276 


[Senate 


Root,  who  own  the  adjoining  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  about  one  mile 
north  of  the  village  of  Corydon  and  about  775  feet  East  of  the 
Allegany  River,  on  the  River  flats. 

The  pier,  which  was  a section  of  an  oak  log,  was  removed  16  July, 
1881,  and  a Station  monument  buried  in  its  place.  The  center  of 
the  Station  is  447  feet  north  and  061  foot  west  from  the  center  of 
Milestone  184. 

The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa- 
tions at  this  Station  : — 

Latitude  41°  59'  59". 54  ± 0".ll  North. 

No  observations  were  taken  for  Longitude  at  this  Station. 

The  direction  oc  the  Boundary  at  this  point  is  North  89°  08'  West 
(true). 


No.  12.  Station  Sugar  Grove. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  October  1879.  It  is  situated  upon 
high  ground  in  the  town  of  Sugar  Grove,  Warren  County,  Penn., 
east  side  of  a highway  one  mile  north  of  the  village  of  Sugar  Grove 
upon  the  land  of  James  Woodside. 

The  pier,  which  was  a section  of  a white  ash  log,  was  removed, 
and  a Station  monument  buried  in  its  place  21  August,  1884.  The 
center  of  the  Station  is  2?>76  feet  South  and  706  feet  East  from  a 
granite  highway  mouument  standing  in  the  east  side  of  the  highway 
2083  feet  west  of  Milestone  203.  This  milestone  is  3195  feet  north 
of  the  Station. 

The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa- 
tions at  this  Station  : — 

Latitude  41°  59'  58".34±  0".12  North. 

No  observations  were  taken  for  Longitude  at  this  Station. 

The  direction  of  the  Boundary  opposite  this  Station  is  South  89° 
46'  West  (true). 

No.  13.  Station  Clark. 

This  Station  was  occupied  in  July,  1877.  It  is  situated  upon  high 
land  in  the  town  of  Wayne,  Erie  County,  Penn.,  upon  the  land  of 
L.  D.  Clark,  near  the  northwest  corner  of  his  door-yard. 

The  pier,  which  was  of  brick,  was  removed  and  a Station  monu- 
ment buried  in  its  place,  6 September,  1884.  The  cap-stone  of  the 
pier  was  embedded  in  the  surface  of  the  ground  over  the  monument. 
The  center  of  the  Station  is  6932  feet  South  of  a highway  monument 
set  in  the  wagon  track  of  the  State  Line  Road,  with  its  top  flush 
with  the  surface,  at  the  intersection  of  the  meridian  of  the  Station 
with  the  Boundary,  984  feet  East  of  Milestone  224  and  5480  feet 
east  of  the  monument  at  the  south-west  Corner  of  New  York.  The 
center  of  the  Station  is  64  feet  South  of  the  “ Corner”  monument. 
A hole  drilled  in  a boulder  buried  at  the  east  side  of  a farm  road, 
on  the  summit  of  the  ridge  11288  feet  South,  is  in  the  meridian  of 
the  Station. 


No.  71.] 


277 


The  following  is  the  final  result  from  the  Astronomical  observa-- 
tions  at  this  Station  : — 

Latitude  42°  00'  00".79±  0".09  North. 

No  observations  were  taken  for  Longitude  at  this  Station. 

The  Latitude  of  the  “ Corner,”  as  deduced  from  the  results  at  this 
Station,  is  42°  00'  01". 42. 

The  direction  of  the  Boundary  opposite  this  Station  is  South  89° 
57'  West  (true). 


Station  Warren,  395,  N.  Y.  S.  S. 

Station  Warren,  a Primary  Station  of  the  New  York  State  Sur- 
vey, is  situated  upon  a high  hill  upon  the  land  of  F.  M.  Fox,  in  the 
Town  of  Warren,  Bradford  County,  Penn.,  about  3250  feet  South 
of  the  Boundary,  and  9534  feet  South  69°  44'  West  (true)  from 
Milestone  40,  which  marks  the  north-west  corner  of  Susquehanna 
County. 

The  following  is  the  Geodetic  position  of  this  Station  deduced  from 
the  Lake  Survey  System  of  triangles,  and  subject  to  correction  upon 
the  completion  of  the  connection  with  the  Coast  System  of  the  U.  S. 
C.  & G.  Survey.* 

Latitude  41°  59'  22". 05  North. 

Longitude  76°  10'  44".43  West  from  Greenwich. 

The  Geodetic  positions- of  four  milestones  of  the  Boundary  as  re- 
ferred to  this  Station  are  as  follows,  subject  to  the  same  correction  : — 


Milestone  40 
do  41 
do  42 
do  43 


Latitude. 

41°  59'  54".  68 
54  .45 
54  .01 
53  .55 


Longitude . 

76°  08'  45".  94 
09  56  .92 

11  07  .22 

12  19  .56 


Elevation  above 
tide- water.  Feet. 

1246 

1470 

1624 

1408 


Astronomical  Latitude  of  Milestone  40 41°  59'  59". 93 

Geodetic  do  do  41  59  54  .68 


Difference 05".  25 

Equivalent  to  531  feet. 


Dr.  Peters’  Station  near  the  Initial  Point  of  the  Meridian 

Boundary. 

This  Station  was  occupied  by  Dr.  C.  H.  F.  Peters  in  August  and 
September,  1865.  It  was  approximately  located  and  connected  with 
the  Boundary  in  October,  1878,  and  also  in  1885  * the  site  being  in- 


*This  correction,  for  Station  Warren,  estimated  from  the  results  given  in  Ap- 
pendix 9 of  Coast  Survey  Report  for  1884,  just  published,  which  affects  equally 
the  positions  of  the  four  milestones  referred  to  the  Station,  is 

Latitude + 1".  42 

Longitude — 0".39 

This  result  in  Latitude  will  reduce  the  difference  between  the  Astronomical  and 
Geodetic  Latitudes  of  Milestone  40  to  3". 83  388  feet. 


278 


[Senate 


dicated  by  Mr.  D.  R.  Taylor,  upon  whose  land  it  was  located,  about 
25  feet  north  of  the  front  door  of  his  dwelling.  It  is  in  the 
village  of  Northville- in  the  Town  of  Ripley,  Chautauqua  County, 
New  York,  about  200  feet  nortli  of  State  Line  Station  on  the  Lake 
Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railroad,  about  1060  feet  east  of  the 
Boundary  and  about  a mile  and  three-fourths  South  of  Lake  Eric. 

Dr.  Peters  gives  the  results  of  his  observations,  and  his  method 
of  connecting  his  Station  with  the  Initial  Monument  on  the  bank  of 
the  Lake,  in  his  report  published  in  N.  Y.  Assembly  Documents 
No.  101  in  1866,  and  No.  230  in  1867.  ITis  Astronomical  results  at 
his  Station  are  as  follows : — 

Latitude 42°  14/  26". 0 ± 2.74. 

Longitude  (corrected  to  Greenwich)  ...  79  4:5  45.1. 

These,  as  transferred  to  the  Initial  monument  on  the  bank  of  Lake 
Erie  by  him  from  his  measurements,  made  the  position  of  the  mon- 


ument as  follows : — 

Latitude 42°  16'  02".8, 

Longitude  (corrected  to  Greenwich) 79  46  09  .2. 


But  Dr.  P.  made  a very  material  error  in  his  measured  distance 
north  of  his  Station,*  which  when  applied  to  the  position  of  the 
latter  would  make  the  Latitude  of  the  Initial  monument  42°  15' 
56".  8±. 

* Dr.  Peters,  in  his  Report  heretofore  alluded  to,  gives  the  distance  of  the  Initial 
Monument  north  of  his  observing  station  9795  feet,  and  Milestone  3,  C471  feet 
south  of  it.  The  position  of  Dr.  Peters'  instrument  stand  was  indicated  to  me  in 
October,  1878,  by  Mr.  D.  R.  Taylor,  the  gentleman  who  owned  the  place,  and  who 
occupied  the  house  at  the  time  the  observations  were  made.  This  point  was  con- 
nected with  the  lines  of  the  reconnaissance,  and  when  the  lake  was  reached,  it 
was  evident  that  there  was  a great  discrepancy  in  the  measurements.  As  the  in- 
tervals between  the  known  points  south  of  Milestone  3 showed  a uniformity  in 
the  length  of  the  miles  as  marked,  with  but  little  variation  from  the  normal 
length,  and  my  total  measured  length  of  the  entire  Meridian  Boundary  cor- 
responding so  closely  with  the  figures  upon  the  original  map,  I was  satisfied  that 
Dr.  Peters  was  in  error,  from  the  fact  that  he  had  made  the  distance  from  0 to 
3 over-run  so  excessively. 

In  June,  1835,  in  order  to  test  the  accuracy  of  the  measurements  of  1878  (which 
by-the-way,  were  made  with  a chain  [66']  which  had  been  in  constant  use  for 
some  time  without  testing,  and  consequently  its  error  was  not  known)  the  ap- 
proximate site  of  Dr.  Peters'  station  was  carefully  connected  with  the  Boundary 
line  as  monumented,  and  the  distance  measured  north  to  the  lake  with  a light 
chain  (100')  which  had  been  purposely  tested  and  corrected.  The  resulting  dis- 
tance corresponded  closely  with  that  of  1878.  The  actual  chained  distances  are  as 
follows:  — 


Station  North  to  Initial  Monument  (1790) 9187.2  feet. 

do  South  to  M.  S.  3 6631  “ 

Initial  Monument  to  M.  S.  3 15818.2  feet. 


The  distance  South  to  Milestone  3 was  not  remeasured. 

The  difference  between  my  distance  north  of  the  Station  and  that  given  by  Dr. 
Peters,  6078  feet,  is  equal  to  6"  of  Latitude. 

There  appeared  to  be  no  practical  difference  between  the  distances  of  the  Sta- 
tion East  of  the  Line.  H.  W.  C. 


No.  71.] 


279 


The  United  States  Lake  Survey  has  located  the  position  of  the 
new  monument  set  in  1869  by  stadia  measurements  from  the  Geo- 
detic Stations  of  that  Survey,  and  we  have  as  a result  four  different 
latitudes  for  this  one  point. 


Latitude  according  to  Ellicott  1790  42°  16'  13" 

do  do  Dr.  Peters 42  16  02.8 

do  Dr.  Peters  (corrected)  42  15  56.8 

do  U.  S.  Lake  Survey,  1882  (-}-440  ft.) 42  16  09  74 


Difference  between  last  two 12".94 


The  Lake  Survey  result  for  Longitude  1882  is 79°  45'  45". 26 

Dr.  Peters..  79  46  09.2 

Difference 23". 94 


280 


[Senate 


APPENDIX  E. 


COUNTY  AND  TOWN  CORNERS. 

Parallel  Boundary. 

Seven  Counties  in  New  York  adjoin  the  Parallel  Boundary;  these 
are, — Broome,  Tioga,  Chemung,  Steuben,  Allegany,  Cattaraugus,  and 
Chautauqua,  containing  in  all  35  Towns;  and  eight  Counties  in  Penn- 
sylvania:— Wayne,  Susquehanna,  Bradford,  Tioga,  Potter,  McKean, 
Warren,  and  Erie,  in  which  there  are  41  Towns. 

The  following  schedule  gives  a description  of  the  intersection  of 
the  lines  between  these  Counties  and  Towns  with  the  Boundary,  and 
the  manner  in  which  they  are  marked. 

NEW  YORK. 

Delaware  River  forms  the  Boundary  between  Delaware  and 
Broome  Counties,  at  the  Initial  Point. 

The  Corner  between  the  Towns  of  Sanford  and  Windsor,  Broome 
County,  is  marked  by  a granite  monument  (fourth  class  — see  Ap- 
pendix B)  440  feet  East  of  Milestone  10,  set  12  July,  1882,  at  tbe 
request  of  the  Supervisors  of  the  towns. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Windsor  and  Kirkwood,  Broome 
County  is  marked  by  a granite  monument  (fourth  class)  20377  feet 
west  of  Milestone  19  set.15  April,  1884,  at  the  request  of  the  Super- 
visors of  the  Towns. 

The  Susquehanna  River  forms  the  Boundary  between  the  towns 
of  Kirkwood  and  Conklin  in  Broome  County. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towms  of  Conklin  and  Binghamton,  in  Broome 
County  is  marked  by  an  old  stake  and  stones  398  feet  East  of  Mile- 
stone 20. 

The  Corner  between  the  Towns  of  Binghamton  and  Vestal  in 
Broome  County  is  at  a point  unmarked,  between  Milestones  30  and 
31,  1434±  feet  west  of  the  former. 

The  Corner  of  the  Counties  of  Broome  and  Tioga  is  marked  by 
a granite  monument  (fourth  class)  8096  feet  East  of  Milestone  38. 
Set  12  September,  1883. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Owego  and  Nichols  in  Tioga  County 
is  at  a point — indefinite  — between  Milestones  46  and  47.  The 
statute  description  of  the  Town  boundary  is  a line  due  South  from 
the  mouth  of  Owego  Creek.  A monument  was  provided  for  this 
Corner,  but  never  set,  as  the  Supervisors  of  the  Towns  failed  to 
have  the  line  run. 


No.  71.] 


281 


The  Susquehanna  River  forms  the  boundary  between  the  Towns 
of  Nichols  and  Barton  in  Tioga  County. 

The  line  between  Tioga  and  Chemung  Counties  begins  in  the 
Boundary  at  low  water  mark  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Chemung 
River  near  Milestone  60|,  and  follows  up  that  bank  to  a certain 
sulphur  spring. 

The  Corner  between  the  towns  of  Cliemnng  and  Ashland  in 
Chemung  County  was  fixed  in  1S67  at  the  corner  of  the  farms  of 
John  Fincher  and  Clark  Howard.  This  Corner  according  to  John 
Fincher’s  Deed  is  12.50  chains  east  of  the  South-east  corner  of  Lot 
No.  3S,  of  Chemung  Township,  about  28.28  chains  (I8606  feet) 
West  of  Milestone  G8.  The  point  is  not  definitely  marked. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Ashland  and  Southport  in  Chemung 
County,  is  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Lot  111  of  Chemung  Town- 
ship, about  G1.50  chains  (4059  feet)  West  of  Milestone  72.  The 
point  is  not  definitely  marked.  There  is  supposed  to  be  a “ Gore  ” 
between  Lot  111  and  the  east  fine  of  James  Watson’s  Large  Tract, 
the  South-east  Corner  of  which  is  not  far  from  Milestone  73. 

Milestone  82  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Counties  of  Chemung  and 
Steuben. 

Milestone  88  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Caton  and  Lindley 
in  Steuben  County. 

Milestone  94  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Lindley  and 
Tuscarora  in  Steuben  County. 

Milestone  100  is  at  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Tuscarora  and 
Woodhull  in  Steuben  County. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Woodlnlll  and  Troupsburg  in  Steu- 
ben County  is  in  the  center  of  a new  road  lG^-  feet  west  of  a liigh- 
wav  monument  which  stands  1030  feet  west  of  Milestone  107. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Troupsburg  and  West  Union  in 
Steuben  County  is  marked  by  a granite  monument  (third  class) 
18S76  feet  west  of  Milestone  11G. 

A granite  monument  (fourth  class)  6998  feet  West  of  Milestone 
122,  marks  the  corner  of  Counties  of  Steuben  and  Allegany. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Independence  and  Willing  in 
Allegany  County  is  at  the  South-west  corner  of  Phelps  & Gorham’s 
Purchase,  unmarked,  22.14  chains  (146LJ-  feet)  East  of  Milestone 
127. 

A highway  monument  15143  feet  East  of  Milestone  133  marks 
the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Willing  and  Alma,  in  Allegany 
County.  The  Town  line  is  near  the  center  of  a road. 

The  Corner  between  the  Towns  of  Alma  and  Bolivar  in  Allegany 
County  is  marked  by  the  original  stone  monument  at  the  South- 
east corner  of  the  Holland  Land  Company’s  Purchase,  and  a new 
granite  monument  (third  class)  set  23  October,  1883.  This  monu- 
ment is  11486  feet  east  of  Milestone  139. 

The  line  between  the  Towns  of  Bolivar  and  Genesee  in  Allegany 
County,  is  undefined.  It  is  between  Milestones  144  and  145  about 
64.40  chains  (42504  feet  [H.  L.  Co.  Notes])  west  of  the  former. 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  36 


2S2 


[Senate 


The  Corner  of  Allegany  and  Cattaraugus  Counties  is  at  a new 
granite  monument  (fourth  class)  1043  feet  East  of  Milestone  151. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Portville  and  Olean  in  Cattaraugus 
County  is  marked  by  a granite  monument  (fourth  class)  set  29  May, 
1884,  to  replace  the  original  16  mile  Monument  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company,  1,196°  feet  East  of  Milestone  155. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Olean  and  Allegany  in  Cattaraugus 
County  is  unmarked.  It  is  a short  distance  west  of  a granite  monu- 
ment (fourth  class)  which  marks  the  corner  of  the  Towns  of  Eldred 
and  Otto  in  Pennsylvania,  between  Milestones  158  and  159. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Allegany  and  Carrolton  in  Cattarau- 
gus County,  is  marked  by  a large  stake  on  the  west  side  of  the  sum- 
mit of  the  mountain,  888  feet  East  of  Milestone  165. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Carrolton  and  Ped  House  in  Catta- 
raugus County  is  marked  by  the  original  monument  at  the  south  end 
of  the  Western  Transit  Meridian,  and  a new  granite  monument 
(fourth  class)  548  feet  East  of  Milestone  171. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Red  House  and  South  Valley  is 
marked  by  a granite  monument  (fourth  class)  2T533  feet  East  of 
Milestone  178. 

The  Highway  monument  1380  feet  west  of  Milestone  1S9  marks 
the  Corner  between  the  Counties  of  Cattaraugus  and  Chautauqua. 

The  Conewango  River  forms  the  boundary  between  the  Towns  of 
Carroll  and  Kiantone  in  Chautauqua  County. 

The  line  between  the  Towns  of  Kiantone  and  Busti,  Chautauqua 
County,  is  in  the  center  of  a road  about  689  feet  East  of  Milestone 
198. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Bust!  and  Harmony,  in  Chautauqua 
County  is  at  the  Corner  of  Sections  41  and  49,  marked  by  an  old 
stake  2132  feet  west  of  Milestone  205.  The  dead  trunk  of  the  origi- 
nal north  east  witness  (“  Beech  15"d.  N.  52°  E.  52  links”)  still  re- 
mains. 

The  line  of  the  Towns  of  Harmony  and  Clymer  in  Chautauqua 
County  is  in  the  center  of  a road,  about  726  feet  east  of  Milestone 
213. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Clymer  and  French  Creek  is  marked 
by  a highway  monument,  6497  feet  East  of  Milestone  219. 

The  South-west  Corner  of  Chautauqua  County  is  marked  by  the 
“ Corner  ” monument,  at  the  intersection  of  the  Parallel  and  Merid- 
ian Boundaries. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  Corner  of  Wayne  and  Susquehanna  Counties  is  marked  by  a 
highway  monument  1988  feet  west  of  Milestone  6. 

The  Susquehanna  River  forms  the  boundary  between  Harmony 
and  Oakland  in  Susquehanna  County. 

Milestone  15  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Oakland  and 
Great  Bend  in  Susquehanna  County. 


No.  71.] 


283 


Milestone  21  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Great  Bend  and 
Liberty  in  Susquehanna  County. 

Milestone  27  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Liberty  and  Silver 
Lake  in  Susquehanna  County. 

Milestone  32  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Silver  Lake  and 
Choconut  in  Susquehanna  County. 

The  line  between  the  Towns  of  Choconut  and  Apalachin  in  Sus- 
quehanna County  is  indefinite,  between  Milestones  35  and  36,  “75 
perches  ” east  of  the  latter. 

Milestone  40  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Counties  of  Susquehanna 
and  Bradford. 

Milestone  46  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  W arren  and 
Windham  in  Bradford  County. 

Milestone  52  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Windham  and 
Litchfield  in  Bradford  County. 

The  Susquehanna  River  forms  the  boundary  between  the  Towns 
of  Litchfield  and  Athens,  in  Bradford  County, — between  Milestones 
56  and  57. 

Milestone  65  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Athens  and 
Ridgebury,  in  Bradford  County. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Ridgebury  and  South  Creek  in  Brad- 
ford County  is  at  a point,  unmarked,  21.68  Chains  (1431  feet)  East 
of  Milestone  71. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  South  Creek  and  Wells  in  Bradford 
County  is  supposed  to  be  at  old  Milestone  75.  This  Corner  is  lo- 
cated in  the  original  record  (Bradford  Co.,  Docket  3,  page  205)  thus, 
begins  at  “ 74th  Mile  tree  being  a large  white  pine  standing  on  the 
west  branch  of  a small  creek  thence  one  mile  west  on  the  state  line  to 
a large  hemlock  marked  on  the  west  side  ‘ W 5 and  on  the  east  side  ‘ S. 
K.’  After  thorough  search  the  75th  Milestone  or  tree  could  not  be 
found  and  this  was  therefore  designated  as  the  north  west  corner  of 
the  new  township.”  The  Corner  thus  designated  was  probably  a 
short  distance  west  of  Milestone  75. 

Milestone  80  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Counties  of  Bradford  and 
Tioga. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Jackson  and  Lawrence  in  Tioga 
County  is  at  a point  6J  miles  west  of  Milestone  80. 

Milestone  95  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Lawrence  and 
Nelson  in  Tioga  County. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Nelson  and  Elkland  in  Tioga  County, 
is  at  a stump  3538  feet  west  of  Milestone  98. 

The  line  between  the  Towns  of  Elkland  and*  Osceola  in  Tioga 
County  is  indefinite,  between  Milestones  100  and  101. 

Milestone  102  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Osceola  and 
Deerfield  in  Tioga  County. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Deerfield  and  Brookfield  in  Tioga 
County  is  “63  perches”  West  of  Milestone  108. 

Milestone  115  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Counties  of  Tioga  and 
Potter. 


284  [Senate 

Milestone  121  marks  tlie  Corner  of  tlie  towns  of  Harrison  and 
Bingham  in  Potter  County. 

Milestone  12T  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Bingham  and 
Genesee  in  Potter  County. 

Milestone  133  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Genesee  and 
Oswayo  in  Potter  County. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Oswayo  and  Sharon  in  Potter 
County  is  marked  by  a granite  monument  (fourth  class)  27104  feet 
west  of  Milestone  139.  Set  16  May,  1884,  at  the  request  of  the 
County  Commissioners. 

The  Corner  of  the  Counties  of  Potter  and  McKean  is  marked  by 
a granite  monument  (fourth  class)  35928  feet  west  of  Milestone 
145.  Set  19  May,  1884,  opposite  the  stump  of  the  original  Corner 
tree. 

The  line  between  the  Towns  of  Ceres  and  Eldred  in  McKean 
County  is  the  west  line  of  Warrant  No.  4325,  between  Milestones 
152  and  153.  It  is  undefined  and  unmarked. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Eldred  and  Otto  in  McKean  County, 
is  marked  by  a granite  monument  (fourth  class)  1260  feet  East  of 
Milestone  159,  at  the  north  west  Corner  of  Warrant  No.  4321. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Otto  and  Bradford  in  McKean 
County  is  marked  by  a granite  monument  (fourth  class).  Set  14 
June,  1884,  at  north-west  corner  of  Warrant  No.  4333,  2354  feet 
West  of  Milestone  162. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Bradford  and  Corydon  in  McKean 
County  is  at  the  north-west  corner  of  Warrant  No.  4917,  about  1000 
feet  west  of  Milestone  175,  unmarked. 

The  Corner  of  McKean  and  Warren  Counties  is  marked  by  a 
granite  monument  (fourth  class)  set  15  July,  1884,  opposite  the 
stake  set  by  the  County  Line  Commissioners  in  1873,  297  feet  west 
of  Milestone  182. 

The  Allegany  River  forms  the  line  between  the  Towns  of  Cory- 
don and  Elk  in  Warren  County. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Elk  and  Pine  Grove  is  marked  by 
a granite  monument  (third  class)  9516  feet  East  of  Milestone  189. 
Set  4 August  1884  at  the  request  of  the  County  Commissioners. 

Milestone  195  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Pine  Grove 
and  Farmington  in  Warren  County. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Farmington  and  Sugar  Grove  in 
Warren  County,  is  marked  by  a granite  monument  (third  class) 
2 6 205  feet  west  ot  Milestone  200,  set  22  August,  1884  at  the  request 
of  the  County  Commissioners. 

Milestone  206  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Sugar  Grove 
and  Freehold  in  Warren  County. 

Milestone  212  marks  the  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Freehold  and 
Columbus  in  Warren  County. 

T1  le  Corner  of  the  Counties  of  Warren  and  Erie  is  marked  by  a 
highway  monument  402s  feet  West  of  Milestone  217. 


No.  71.] 


285 


The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Wayne  and  Amity  in  Erie  County,  is 
marked  by  a granite  monument  (lirst  class)  in  the  center  of  the  State 
Line  Road  3763  feet  East  of  the  i4  Corner ’’'monument. 

The  line  between  the  Towns  of  Amity  and  Venango  in  Erie 
County  is  a westward  prolongation  of  the  Parallel  Boundary. 

Meridian  Boundary. 

One  County  in  each  state  adjoins  the  Meridian  Boundary  — Erie 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  Chautauqua  in  New  York  — each  containing  3 
towns  which  lie  upon  this  portion  of_the  State  Line. 

NEW  YORK. 

The  line  between  > the  Towns  of  Ripley  and  Mina,  is  unmarked 
save  by  a rail  fence  which  is  supposed  to  oe  upon  the  Line,  about  1960 
feet  North  of  Milestone  7. 

The  Corner  of  tiie  Towns  of  Mina  and  French  Creek  is  at  or  near 
a granite  Highway  Monument  standing  opposite  the  center  of  a road 
which  lies  upon  the  Town  line,  about  1940  feet  North  of  Milestone 
13. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  North-East  and  Greenfield  is  marked 
by  a granite  highway  monument  standing  in  a little  ravine,  upon 
the  west  line  of  the  ‘ State  Line  Road,’  6453  feet  north  of  Mile- 
stone 8,  opposite  a stake  certified  by  the  County  Commissioners  as 
marking  the  Town  Line. 

The  Corner  of  the  Towns  of  Greenfield  and  Venango  is  at  or  near 
the  same  highway  monument  to  which  is  referred  the  Corner  of  the 
Towns  of  Mina  and  French  Creek  in  New  York.  The  point  is 
approximately  that  fixed  by  the  County  Commissioners  in  August, 
1881. 


286 


[Senate 


APPENDIX  F. 


Names  of  Commissioners  and  Persons  Connected  with  the 

Survey. 

Joint  Boundary  Commission. 

Col.  James  Worrall  of  Penn.,  Chairman; 

Dr.  Samuel  B.  Woolwortli,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Secretary;  (Dr.  Woolworth  died  in 
1880;)  after  his  death 
Dr.  David  Murray,  Albany,  Secretary; 

Dr.  Daniel  J.  Pratt,  Albany,  Assistant  Secretary;  (Dr.  Pratt  died  12  September, 
1884.) 

Chancellor  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  Albany;  (died  21  Nov.,  1877;) 

Chancellor  Henry  R.  Pierson  Albany; 

Gen.  Elias  W.  Leavenworth,  Syracuse; 

Hon.  Chauucey  M.  Depew,  New  York; 

Commissioners  for  New  York. 

Col.  James  Worrall,  Harrisburg;  (died  1 April,  1885;) 

Col.  Christopher  M.  Gere,  Montrose; 

Capt.  Robert  N Torrey,  Honesdale  ; 

Commissioners  for  Pennsylvania. 

Major  H.  Wadswortli  Clarke,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Surveyor  on  the  part  of  New 
York  and  Engineer-in-charge  of  Survey. 

Col.  C.  M.  Gere,  Montrose,  Penn.,  Surveyor  on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Consulting  Engineer. 


Members  of  Party , 1877. 

Frank  C.  Ainslie,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Principal  Assistant; 
Daniel  E.  Hayden,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Clerk; 

Henry  R.  Mills,  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  flagman; 

Joseph  Becket,  Hale’s  Eddy,  N.  Y., 

Nicholas  Brown,  do  and 

David  D.  Terwilliger,  New  Baltimore,  Pa.,  Axmen; 

Charles  E.  Curtis,  Lanesboro,  Penn.,  Teamster. 


Members  of  Party,  1878. 

Frank  C.  Ainslie,  Principal  Assistant ; 

Daniel  E.  Hayden,  Clerk; 

Charles  H.  Wells,  Pompey,  N.  Y.,  flagman  ; 

Eduardo  de  A.  Villares,  Para,  Brazil,  do  ; 

Luther  C.  Ainslie,  Jamesville,  N.  Y.,  Axman; 
Nicholas  Brown,*  Hale’s  Eddy,  N.  Y.,  do  ; 

Geo.  L.  Ainslie,  Jamesville,  N.  Y.,  do  ; 

Will  C.  Martin,  Pompey,  N.  Y.,  do  ; 

Charles  E.  Curtis,  Teamster. 

Members  of  Party,  1 879. 

Frank  C.  Ainslie,  Principal  Assistant; 

Daniel  E.  Hayden,  Clerk; 


* Killed  on  Erie  Railway,  1879. 


No.  71.] 


2S7 


John  B.  Fuller,  Montoursville,  Penn.,  Flagman; 
Charles  H.  Wells,  bush-hook  man; 

Almerin  F.  Hamilton,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Axman; 
William  Portman,  Corydon,  Penn.,  do  ; 

E.  Williams,  do  do  ; 

John  F.  Stewart,  Lanesboro,  Penn.,  do  ; 

Charles  E.  Curtis,  Teamster; 

James  Giles,  Limestone,  N.  Y.,  (temporary  teamster); 
Charles  Terry,  Corydon,  Penn.,  ( do  ); 

Members  of  Party , 1881. 

Charles  H.  Wells,  Pompey,  N.  Y.,  Flagman; 

A.  F.  Hamilton,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Axman; 

Benj.  D.  Barnes,  Waverly,  N.  Y.,  do  ; 

Charles  E.  Curtis,  Lanesboro,  Pa.,  Teamster. 


Members  of  Party , 1882. 

Harry  C.  Allen,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Principal  Assistant; 
Charles  H.  Wells,  Axeman; 

Benj.  D.  Barnes,  do  ; 

Charles  E.  Curtis,  Teamster. 


Members  of  Party , 1883. 

Harry  C.  Allen,  Clerk  and  Principal  Assistant; 

Joseph  Sill,  Union  City,  Penn.,  Transitman; 

Charles  H.  Wells,  Axman; 

Albert  Taylor,  Lanesboro,  Pa.,  Axman; 

Fred.  C.  Simmons,  Brookfield,  Pa.,  do  ; 

Charles  E.  Curtis,  Teamster; 

Arthur  Thomas,  Spring  Mills,  N.  Y,  (temporary  teamster). 

Members  of  Party , 1884. 

Harry  C.  Allen,  Transitman  and  Clerk; 

Charles  H.  Wells,  Axman; 

Fred.  C.  Simmons,  do  ; 

Will.  H.  Wells,  Pompey,  N.  Y.,  Axman: 

Charles  E.  Curtis  Teamster. 


Members  of  Party , 1885. 

Harrv  C.  Allen,  Transitman; 

Charles  H,  Wells,  Axman; 

Fred.  C.  Simmons,  do  ; 

Charles  E.  Curtis,  do  ; 

Fred  Luce,  State  Line  Station,  N.  Y.,  Teamster; 

Wm.  W.  Kasson,  Lanesboro,  Penn.,  do  ; 

Mr.  Allen  has  also,  during  nearly  his  entire  connection  with  the  survey,  acted 
as  chief  clerk  and  draughtsman. 


Astronomical  Party  from  the  Office  of  the  Lnited  States  Coast 
and  Geodetic  Survey. 

Assistant  Edwin  Smith,  Observer; 

Sub- Assistant  John  B.  Baylor,  Recorder,  1877; 

Sub-Assistant  F.  H.  Parsons,  do  , 1879. 


288 


[Senate 


Col.  Worrall  died  at  his  residence  in  Harrisburg,  1 April,  1885. 
He  was  born  12  Jan.,  1S12,  in  the  city  of  Limerick,  Ireland.  His 
father,  John  Worrall,  a merchant,  having  failed  in  business,  came  to 
America  and  became  a teacher  in  a ladies’  boarding  school.  He  died 
in  1845. 

The  son,  after  an  apprenticeship  with  Carey,  Lea  & Co.,  of 
Philadelphia,  at  the  age  of  19,  secured  a position  under  F.  W. 
Rawle  upon  a railroad  survey  in  Northumberland  Co.,  running  from 
Shamokin  to  Susquehanna  and  West.  This  road  laid  out  in  1831 
was  built  in  1S82.  In  1832  he  was  engaged  on  a rail-road  survey  in 
North  Carolina,  and  in  1833,  under  Judge  Benj.  Wright,  he  was 
engaged  upon  the  Erie  Canal.  He  then  joined  the  Engineering 
Corps  on  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  where  he  remained  until 
1835,  when  he  assisted  in  the  survey  of  the  rail-road  from  Trenton 
to  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  After  this  he  was  on  the  James  and 
Kenawha  Rivers  with  his  old  chief,  Judge  Wright,  and  Charles 
Ellet,  Jr.  In  1838  he  was  engaged  in  making  a survey  through 
Pennsylvania  from  the  Cumberland  Yalley  on  a line  of  road  now 
partly  occupied  by  the  South  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  He  was  next, 
principal  assistant  to  Col.  W.  Milnor  Roberts  on  the  Erie  Exten- 
sion of  the  Pennsylvania  canals.  In  1844  he  became  connected  with 
a contracting  firm,  and  built  a large  portion  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
Canals,  the  Rutland  and  Burlington,  and  the  Ogdensburg  and  Lake 
Champlain  Rail-roads. 

In  1850  he  returned  to  his  profession,  and  became  Chief  Engineer 
of  the  Union  Canal  of  Pennsylvania.  Upon  the  completion  of  the 
enlargement  of  this  Canal,  he  became  Principal  Engineer  on  the 
Western  Division  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Erie  Rail-road.  In  1860 
he  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  became  again  interested  in  the  South 
Penn.,  Railroad  line.  He  surveyed  a connection  with  the  route  of 
1838  from  Harrisburg,  and  investigated  several  other  lines,  and  upon 
the  organization  of  a company  was  elected  president  and  so  remained 
until  it  was  bought  out  and  merged  into  the  South  Pennsylvania 
Rail-road. 

After  1860  during  the  war,  he  acted  as  Clerk  in  the  Quarter- 
master’s Department,  with  rank  of  Colonel,  his  age  and  a limb  crip- 
pled from  an  accident,  preventing  more  active  service.  In  1866  at 
the  instance  of  Sir  Morton  Peto,  he  recommended  an  extension  of 
the  Catawissa  Rail-road  System  across  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  to 
the  Ohio  River.  In  1867  he  was  engaged  in  projecting  a canal  on 
the  Rock  River  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  and  in  1868  in  similar 
work  on  the  Illinois  River.  And  later  he  was  engaged  under  the 
Gfeneral  Government  in  surveys  for  a water  communication  between 
Lake  Erie  and  the  Allegany  and  Susquehanna  Rivers,  and  the  im- 
provement of  the  navigation  of  these  streams.  Since  1869  he  had 
acted  as  Fish  Commissioner  for  Pennsylvania,  and  as  Actuary  for 
the  State  Board,  lie  was  appointed  Commissioner  on  the  New 
York  Boundary  by  Gov.  Hartranft  in  1876,  and  upon  the  organ iza- 


I 


No.  71.]  289 

tion  of  the  Joint  Board  was  made  chairman.  He  was  also  Com- 
missioner upon  the  Boundary  lines  between  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio 
and  West  Virginia.  He  left  a widow  and  one  daughter.  An  only 
son  had  died  a few  months  previously. 

Hon.  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  LL.D.,  was  a native  of  Albany,  New 
York,  where  he  was  born  1811.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
Albany  Academy,  and  in  1832  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was 
appointed  Master  in  Chancery  by  Governor  Marcy  ; and  in  1835 
was  chosen  a director,  and  counsel,  of  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson  Pail 
Poad;  and  afterward  was  Treasurer  of  the  New  York  Central  Pail 
Poad.  In  183 1 he  became  connected  with  the  Albany  Institute, 
and  was  its  President  from  1855  until  bis  death.  In  1814  he*  was 
elected  a member  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  University  of 
New  York,  and  in  1862  was  chosen  Chancellor  of  the  University. 
He  was  a member  of  the  State  Senate  in  1862-63,  and  of  Congress 
1863-65,  and  1869-71.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  Clifton  Springs  21  Nov.,  1877,  he  was  President  of  the  State 
Board  of  Charities,  and  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  State 
Survey. 

r Dr.  Samuel  Buell  Woolworth,  LL.D.,  first  Secretary  of  the  Joint 
Boundary  Commission,  was  born  in  Bridgeliampton,  Suffolk 
County,  New  York,  5 December,  1800.  He  was  fitted  for  College 
by  bis  father,  and  was  admitted  in  IS  19  to  the  Sophomore  Class  in 
Hamilton  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1822.  For  two  years 
after  his  graduation  he  was  a teacher  in  Monson  Academy  in  Massa- 
chusetts. In  1821  he  was  called  to  tbe  Priucipalship  of  the  Onon- 
daga Academy  at  Onondaga  Valley  near  the  present  City  of  Syra- 
cuse, where  he  remained  six  years,  leaving  to  become  Principal  of 
the  Cortland  Academy  in  Homer.  Here  he  remained  for  twenty- 
two  years.  During  this  service,  he,  in  1815,  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  New  York  State  Teachers  Association,  of  which  he  was 
in  1817  elected  President.  In  1852  he  was  appointed  Principal  of 
tbe  State  Normal  School  at  Albany  which  position  he  filled  until 
1856,  when  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the 
University  of  New  York.  From  1836  until  his  death  he  was  one 
of  the  Trustees  of  Hamilton  College.  In  January  1880,  on  account 
of  failing  physical  powers,  be  resigned  his  position  as  Secretary  of 
the  Board  of.  Regents,  and  removed  to  the  residence  of  a son  in 
Brooklyn,  where  he  died  30  June,  18S0.  He  was  buried  in  Homer, 
New  York.  Dr.  Woolworth  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife 
dying  in  1876. 

Dr.  Daniel  J.  Pratt,  Ph.D.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Westmoreland, 
Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  8 March,  1827.  He  graduated  at  Hamilton 
College  in  1851,  with  all  tbe  honors.  He  was  teacher  of  Mathe- 
matics in  Fredonia  Academy  in  Chautauqua  County  from  1S5L  to 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  37 


290 


[Senate 


1854,  when  he  was  chosen  Principal,  which  position  he  filled  until 
1864.  In  the  latter  year  he  spent  several  months  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  in  Virginia,  in  the  service  of  the  U.  S.  Christian 
Commission.  In  October  1864,  he  was  appointed  to  a Clerkship  in 
the  Office  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  University  of  New  York, 
and  in  1866  was  made  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Board,  as  which 
he  served  until  his  death.  lie  was  also  Secretary  of  the  Albany 
Institute,  and  Clerk  of  the  State  Survey,  and  had  charge  of  the  Rec- 
ords of  the  Boundary  Commission.  He  also  compiled  the  docu- 
ments published  in  the  Regents’  Boundary  Reports.  He  died  12 
Sept.,  1884,  at  Albany,  after  an  illness  of  nearly  a year,  leaving  a 
widow,  two  daughters,  and  a son  to  survive  him. 


No.  71.] 


291 


APPENDIX  G. 


Copies  of  Documents  found  among  the  Papers  of  George  Palmer, 
now  in  the  Possession  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, BY  BEQUEST  FROM  THE  LATE  JACOB  FaTZINGER,  Jr.,  OF 

Weaversville,  Northampton  Co.,  Penn. 

I.  Palmer’s  Commission  as  Deputy  Surveyor. 

II.  Survey  of  the  Delaware  River  from  Minisink  Island  to  the 
Forty  second  Parallel  in  November,  1774,  by  Messrs.  Ritten- 
house  and  Palmer. 

III.  Palmer’s  “ Journal  up  Delaware  May  1784,”  including  notes 
of  Survey  from  the  Delaware  to  the  Susquehanna. 

IY.  “ Journal  up  Susquehanna  & across  to  Delaware,”  June,  1784. 
John  De  Long  and  William  Drake. 

Y.  Letter  from  Surveyor  General  Lukens  to  George  Palmer. 

YI.  Extracts  from  Palmer’s  Field-notes  of  Warrant  Surveys. 

I. 

John  Lukins  Surveyor  General  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  of  the  Counties  of  New  Castle  Kent  & Sufsexupon  Delaware, 
by  Yirtue  of  a Commilsion  from  the  Honble  James  Hamilton  Esqr: 
Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  province  and  Counties  aforesaid. 
To  George  Palmer  of  the  County  of  Philada : sendeth  Greeting : 
Know  that  reposing  Special  Trust  and  Confidence  in  your 
[l.  s.]  Skill,  Care  and  Integrity,  I have  Nominated  deputed  and  ap- 
pointed, and  do  by  these  presents  Nominate,  depute  and 
appoint  you  the  said  George  Palmer  to  be  Surveyor  of  part  of  the 
County  of  Northampton,  to  wit,  of  all  that  part  (now  purchased  of 
the  Indians)  Lying  to  the  North  of  the  Lehi  and  W est  of  Delaware 
River,  commonly  called  the  Forks  of  Delaware,  together  with  Wil- 
liams Township  in  said  County  Lying  South  of  the  Lehi,  joining 
Delaware  River  and  the  Durham  Tract;  Giving  and  granting  unto 
the  said  George  Palmer,  full  power,  Right,  and  Authority  to  survey, 
resurvey  & Admeasure  all  the  Proprietary  Land  and  Manors  within 
the  said  Limits,  and  to  Execute  all  W arrants  and  orders  of  Survey  by 
me  directed  to  you  in  pursuance  of  the  Proprietary  Orders  for  Sur- 
veying, resurveying  or  measuring  any  Tracts  or  Lots  within  the  said 
Limits.  And  Especially  requiring  you  to  Execuse  all  such  Y7 arrants 
and  orders  of  Survey  [and  also  all  former  Warrants  and  orders  of 
Survey  heretofore  granted  and  directed  to  any  former  Deputy  Sur- 
veyor, not  yet  Executed,  within  the  Limits  aforesaid]  duly,  faithfully 
and  without  partiality  to  Execute  according  to  the  respective  tenures 
of  the  same : and  Exact  accounts  thereof  with  drafts  and  Plots  of 


292 


[Senate 


the  said  Surveys  Carefully  clone  to  Return  Into  my  office.  In  Wit- 
nefs  whereof  I have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  Fourth  day 
of  August  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  feventy  three. 

JN°  LUKE  NS  SurvY  Gen1. 


[Endorsed]  Deputation 

To  George  Palmer. 


[Palmer  continued  to  hold  the  position  of  Deputy  Surveyor  under 
the  Provincial  Government  and  the  Commonwealth  over  50  years.] 


II. 


[Survey  of  the  Delaware  River  from  Ten  Mile  River  in  the  present 
town  of  Tusten,  below  Narrowsburgh,  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  to  the 
Initial  Point  of  the  Parallel  Boundary,  in  November  i774  ; and  from 
Minisink  Island,  New  Jersey  to  Ten  Mile  River  in  the  same  month.] 

[The  outside  leaf  of  the  field-book  from  wliieli  the  following  extracts  were 
made,  is  missing,  but  its  contents  are  — beside  the  traverse  of  the  Delaware 
River  — the  Surveys  of  Warrants  in  the  present  Counties  of  Monroe,  Pike,  and 
Wayne,  Penn.,  made  in  1773-4.  It  is  a book  of  about  100  pages,  made  by  folding 
unruled  foolscap  sheets  into  eight  leaves. 

The  first  few  pages  are  occupied  by  the  notes  of  a survey  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  Delaware  river  ; this  is  followed  by  the  notes  of  a traverse  of  the  River 
below,  probably  made  by  Mr.  Rittenliouse.  The  Warrant  Surveys  were  all  made 
by  Palmer. 

The  first  part  of  the  first  sentence  is  evidently  gone  with  the  outside  leaf. 

Palmer  had  the  faculty  of  leaving  many  of  liis  £’s  uncrossed  and  i’s  undotted. 
H.  W.  C.] 


[Page. 


true  Variation  4°.  35'  East 
taken  at  Zeal  Tylors  by 
Mr.  Lukens’s 
Meredian. 

Bearing  & Distance  from 
Ten  mile  River  up  Delaware 


N 27 
N 80 
N 50 
N 36 
N 22 


W 274 

W—  72 

W 86 

W 76 

W 108 


Penfyl vania  side  bears  N 17-|  W 


N 10 
N 44 
JST  65 
N 48 


W 

W— 

w 

w 


N 274  W 
tree  by  Francis 
N 38  W 
N 25  E 
N 64  E 


157  Pennfylvania  S 2 E 
168 
51 
70 

282  to  a buttonwood 
Delongs  house 
124 
28 

38  to  a pine 


No.  71.] 


293 


N 80 
an  Istand. 
S 83 
S 67 


E 


22  opposite  to  lower  end  of 


31 


24  ] bearing  of  ye  Station 
!■  " 


N 76$-  E 


N 82  Eye  base 
or  from  2d  Station  to 
j first  is  N 2 E 15 
West  side  of  River  bars  Due  West 
IPage.] 


N 21 J W — 100 

28 

— 22 
74 
40 
107 
45 
52 

340  to  pine  thence  to  edge 
Penn- 

pne  tree  beors 


N 18 
N 60 
N 72 
S 77 
S 514 
N77 
N 33 
N 5 
River  18  ps 


E 
E 

E — 

E 
E 

E — 

E 
W 

then  on 

fylvania  side  ye  sd 
N 85  E thence  np  River 

North  100  P & ye  pine  bars  S 23f  E 
in  all  on  this  course  320  opposite  to 


Horse  Island 

N 

12 

E 

95 

N 

4$ 

E 

170 

N 

10 

W 

78 

N 

25 

W 

110  to  upper  end 

falls 

N 

85 

w 

44 

N 

28$. 

w 

68 

N 

6 

E 2 outs  1 chain  to  mouth 

of  Corkings  creek  a little  below 
Robert  Lands  house  72  Ps 
[Page.] 


N 514  E 
N 5 W 


a Rock 

N 16*  W 
N 18£W 
Coshicton  Island 
N 25J  W 
N 38i  W 
all  on  this  Course  205 
N 12  W 85 

N 14  E 38 

N 39  E 62 


188 

54  to  Proprietary  Land 
184  to  a post  a little  above 


68 

122  to  upper  end  of 
54 

174  to  a Casliers  run  in 


294 


1ST  66  E 20 

S 85  E 48  to  creek  in  all 

102  ps  to  a marked 
bnsli  from  which  Station  Rock 
bears  (S  Ilf  W)  thence 


S 65*  E 
(bears  S 71  W 
S 65*  E 
N6HE- 
N 4 E 
N iii  w 
N 17*  W 
N 6*  W 
IP  opposite  ye 
[Page.  ] 

N 2 E 
N 1 W 
N 5i  W 
N 40  E 


2 outs  & Station  Rock 


in 


all 


136 
32  to  stone. 

52 

48 

78 

206  to  w.  o.  sap.  marked 
lower  end  of  an  Island 


80 
104 
50 

76  to  upper  end  of  sd 
Island  & upper  end  of  a little  Island 
by  s.d  other  Hand  next  Pennfylvania 
N 10*  E 40 

N 1 W 84  opposite  Daniel 

Skinners  house  and  moutli  of  a Gut  — 


N 12  E — 
N 21  W 
N 38  W 
Skinners  corner 
N 9 W 
N 19i  W 
N 42*  W 
1ST  50i  W 
Island 

N 70* 


88 

44 

76  oposite  to  Elm  Dan*. 

44 

60 

44 

60 — to  lower  end  of  Dreamers 


N 591 
N 21i 
N 58 


85 

77* 

71* 


[Page.'] 


W 64  to  a Rock 

W 72 

W 40 

W 24 

W 50 

W 80 

W (14  to  run)  62 


S 88 
N 66 
1ST  79 
N 30 
N 12 


W 

W — 
w 
w 
w 


131 

50 

58 

84 

48  near 


end  of  Button  Wood  Hand 


ye  upper 


¥ 13*  E 


66 


[Senate 


No.  71.] 


295 


N 3JW 

(28  to  a small  run) 

in  all — 

57 

N 19  E 

216  so  far  Plotted 

N 51$  E 

92 

N 43$  E 

86  to  a flat  rock 

N 31  E 

44 

N 73  E 

84  to  Gum  marked 

P at  lower  end  of  Long  bottom 

S 68$  E 

108 

N 76  E 

64 

th 

12 

Saturday 

N 43$  E — 

42 

N 25  E 

194 

N 13$  E 

80 

N 7J  W 

61 

N 65  W 

44 

N 89  W 

68 

[Page.  1 

S 61JW  — 

37 

S 63i  W 

86 

N 87  W — 

45  to  maple  marked  S 

N 66  E 

85  now  supposd  to  be  N 66  W 

N 43  W 

76 

N 35$  W 

104 

N 66  W 

115  to  birch 

N57  W 

32 

N 64$  W 

80 

N 164  W 

106  to  water  beech  by 

mouth  of  a creek. 

N 74  E 

78 

N 19  E 

106 

N 5$  E 

132 

N 11  W 

48 

N 40*  W 

54 

N 73  ” W — 

42 

N 87  W 

38 

S 86  W 

118 

N 83*  W 

28 

th 

13 

Sunday  — 

N 56  W — 

30 

N 32  W — 

40 

N 38  W 

32 

N 42  W 

92 

N 83|  w 

29 

[Page] 

S 86  W — 

28 

S 77  W 

34 

S 66  W 

86 

296 


[Senate 


S 

80 

W 

51 

81 

w 

50 

N 

624 

w 

100 

N 

30 

w 

115 

N 

18 

w 

64 

N 

94 

w 

47 

N 

11 

E 

175 

N 

164 

W 

78 

N 

394 

W 

60 

N 

68 

W 

20 

S' 

72 

W 

28 

S 

534 

w 

53 

s 

24 

W — 

28  ■ 

Survey 

N 764  W crofs  River  ye  River  to 
York  side  thence  up  ye  River 
S 19  W 160 

S 45  f W — 59 

N 89  W — 24 

N 50  W 46 

1ST  334  W 33 

So  49  W crofs  ye  River  to  small 
Brook  on  Penf  side,  thence  up 
River  — 


[Page.] 

1 


1ST  21  41 

N 41  85 

1ST  50  — 56 
N 63  35 


N 2 1 4 to  york  side. 

N 70  108  to  littl  Stream 

N 89  60 


S 70  W 144 

on  York  side 

S 49J  W 64 
8 27  W 102 

N40  W 

25 

S 41$  W 88 
S 85  W 24  opposi 

N 174  W 

61 

N41  W 

18 

ye  mouth  of  Equinunk 

N 27  W 

18 

N 72J  W 15 

N 20  W 

102 

N 51  W 30 

N 53  W 

22 

to  middle  of  an  Island 

West 

118 

S 64J  W 

34 

S 47  W 

124 

S 764  W 

27 

N 834  W 

103 

N 42  W 

78 

N 264  W 

22 

No.  71.] 


29  T 


N 21  W 74  to  Mr.  Rittenliouse 

Survey  & 5 Ps  ought  to  be  added 
to  his  first  line  — 


[Page.] 


N 16$  E 
N 24  E — 
N 31$  E — 
N 424  E — 
N 50$  E — 

N 6$  E — 
N 13  W 
N 53  W. 
N 71-  W. 


15] 
16  | 
24  }- 
20  | 
106  J 


York 

side 


40 

162 

52 

118 


N 14  W — 72  almost  opposite 

to  Tophpollurk  creek 


i 


Pen nfyl vania  side  — 
ye  14  — 


North 

— 

— 144 

N 30 

E 

28 

N 49 

E 

82 

N 27* 
North 

E 

— 62 
— 86 

N 17* 

W 

— 83 

Monday 

bearing  over  ye  River  S 81°  E 


N 17$  W.  48 


Sngr 


\Page.~] 


N 22  W 152 

S 18  W — 90 

N 17.  E.  118  Hand 

N 22  E 78 

N 21  W 20  to  lower  end  Island 

1ST  40  W 80  to  Sugar  maple 

w by  beech  marked  S : M : N : 


N 17 
N 25 
N 364 
N53 
N 29 
S 82 

N 59 
N 33 


W 64 

W 26  to  forks  River  - 

W 18 

W 51  to  Island 

W 94) 

W 4 chains  to  Stream  water 
57 

W 33 

W 50 


[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


38' 


298 


[Senate 


North  — 22  near  upper  end  Island 

N 19  E 100 

N 10  E 72 

N 30  W — 31 

N 47  W 23 

N 81  W 2 outs  to  opposite  to  brook 


on  york  side 


75 

53£ 

15 

4 


W 

W 

W 

E 


64. 

40 

18 

31 

23  to  Rock 


[Page.] 


st 

21. 


1774 


Monday  November  y‘ 

Pennsylvania  side 

Beginning  at  yd  under  said 
Hemlock  thence  down  ye  River 


N 78  E — 32 

S 65  E 41  to  upper  end  of  an  Island 

good  land 

22 
24 

— 80  to  lower  end  of  sd  Island 


22  E 

314  E — 

51  E — 

40  E 


S 44  E — 

130 

S 5 E 

146 

S 50  E 

60 

8 36  E — 

97 

S 71£E 

32 

N 85  E 

50 

S 34  E — 

24' 

38  f After  4 days 

snowing  a little  ye 
Wind  turning  to  S : 
began  to  snow 
smartley  a soft  wet 
snow  & snowed 
Prodigious  fast  till 

8 o’clock  at  night 
we  came  in  to 
Shohochin*  about 

9 oClock  after  a 
tedious 

Jour- 
ney 

S 66-J  E — 12 

S 86  E 50  to  an  Island 

N 78  E 10 

Rock  mentoned  — 


E 


N 4J  E to  ye  s 
before  thence  down  ye  Rivere 

N 42  E — 14  thence  down 

N 6 W to  ye  sd  Rock 


852 


[Page. 


*Now  Hancock,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y 


No.  71.] 


299 


Penfylvania. 


Tuesday  be 

gan 

th 

at  Hemlock  Novemb  ye.  15  — 

West  - 

35 

N 584 

— 

20 

N 18 

32 

N 14 

23 

N 354 

41 

N 224 

at  a 

11  . 

outs  its  12  Ps  to  River 

280 

N 174 

W 

46 

N 10 

W 

62 

N 25 

w 

38 

N 56 

w 

31 

N 42 

w 

35] 

N 60 

w 

20  j 

N 69 

w 

100  [-Islands 

N 62 

w 

60  | 

N 554 

w 

83  J to  crooked  hemlock 

& a cross 

> River  - 

— ye  Course  is  N 43f  E to 

beech  stump 

Cut 

high  for  ye  Obfervation 

|0 

90  ! 

6 

ii  i 

.26 

Miles  2-3*26 


[Three  pages  blank  and  then  come  the  following,  which  may  probably  have 
been  copied  from  Mr.  Rittenhouse’s  notes.] 


Monday  November  ye.  7lh.  Mr.  Ritten- 
house  began  at  Chesnut  tree  by 
Harman  Rofigrants  thence  lip 
ye  River  on  Pennfyl vania  side. 

S 8SJ  E — 72 

S 68  E — 92  to  uper  end  of 

Minisink 

Island. 


N 71  E 
N 61*  E 
N 72J  E 

N 674  E 
N 52  E 


of  Moliockimack* 


36 

120 

238  small  Hand  on 
Jersey  Side 
38 

74  opposite  ye  month 


N 41  E 26 

N 464  E 40  =N  46|  e 40 


Neversink  Riverat  Carpenter’s  Point. 


300 


[S  KN  ATE 


[Page.] 


1ST  421  E 
N 37'  E 
N 62  E 
N 37  W — 
N 36  W 
N 45|  W 

N 35  W 
N 28  W 
N 424  W 


38 

49 

— 60 
42 


240  to  D Van  Camp 
Sawmill 


76 

78 

22 


N 33|  ¥ - 
N 12  W- 
NSW 
N26  E — 
N 26  W — 
N 31  W — 
N 85  W — 
N 544  W 
N 86  W 
S 854  W. 

N 86  W. 

N 50  AY. 

N 81-J-  W. 

N 674  W 
N 34  W. 

N 66  W 
N 71  W 
N 20  W — 
N 1 64  W — 
N 214  W. 

N 26  E — 
N 2 W — 
N 314  W — 
N 51  W — 
N 36  W — 
N 28J  E 
N 28J  E 


18 

50 

72 

38 

50 

46 

54 
32 
44 
50  ^ 
30 

55 
36 
22 
28 
40 


38 

36 

10 


Over  mountain 
a little  Distance 
from  River 


32 


14 

18 

26 

80  to  Chaimbers  S.  Mill 


122- 


N 25  E — 40 

N 244  E 136 

N 16  E.  46 

N Of  E 60 

N 29  W.  100 

N 834  W 99 

S 6O4  W 104 

N 31  E over  to  York  side  — 

S 46  W — 100  to  Mingaup  — 

S 64  W 40 


[Page.] 


No,  71.] 

301 

S 79  W 

- 34 

N 86  W 

32 

N7L  W 

246  to  small  Hand. 

S 64  W 

160 

S 75  W 

90 

N 76  W 

— 20 

1ST  61  W 

— 38 

N W 

24 

N 24j  W 

66 

N 144  W 

342 

N 514  \V 

118 

N 744  W 

37  to  small  Island 

S 81  W 

34 

S 64  W 

110 

S 47  W 

124  at  4 outs  Fergusons 

Sawmill  — 

S 29  W 

94 

S 50  W 

50 

[Page.] 

S 65  W 

78 

N 804  W 

34 

N 58  W 

50 

1ST  424  W 

3S4 

N 72“  W 

122 

80  S 80  W 

060  S 80*  W 60 

S 691  W 

230 

S 84“  W 

242  Plotted  — this  line 

N 69  W 

62 

N 25  W 

34 

N 13i  E 

64 

N 20  E 

46 

N 42f  E 

78  to  Rock  — 

began  above  y' 

3 Rock  on  same  side 

Rock  bears  S 384  ™ thence  up 

River  IN"  5f  W 70  Psfrom  tlienc 

y®.  Rock  bears 

S 19  W 

N 23i  W 

28 

N 51  W 

110 

N 744  W 

148 

N 294  W 

40 

N 124  W 

81 

N 1 W 

170 

IN"  21  W- 

— 44  to  y®  opposite  y® 

mouth  of  Shoholey 

N 454  W 

110  to  4 way  brook 

N 78  W 

104 

[Page.] 

S 85  ¥ 

40  Side  Done 

N 774  W 

38 

302 


[Senate 


[Page.] 


N 53  W 

36 

N 45  W 

138 

N 70  W 

5 4 

N 88  W 

170 

S 39  W 

70 

S 63  W 

60 

S 62  W 

72 

S 76  W 

40 

N 85  W 

118 

K 724 

124 

N 714 

150 

N 65 

18 

N 354 

16 

N 31 

42 

N 104 

65 

N 7 E 

34  opposite  ye.  mou 
of  Lexawaxin- 

N 16  E 

18  ; • t 

N 74  W over 

to  Pennfyl  vania  Side 

N 7 E 

30 

N 28  E 

86 

N 23  E 

68 

N 1 E 

66 

N 4 W 

54 

N 6 W 

104 

N 34  W 

46 

N 674  W 

30 

N 864  W 

80 

S 85  W 

146 

N 61  W 

48 

N 4 E 

60 

N 10  E — 

12 

N 9 W 

30 

N 104  E 

34 

N 32  E 

74  to  Hugh  Jones 

N 284  E 

32 

N 8 W 

36*  * 

N 15  W 

22 

N 264  W 

36 

N 32  W 

25 

N 46  W 

26 

N 404  W 

62 

N 47  W 

32 

N 52  W 

32 

N 55  ¥ 

54 

N 50  W 

60 

N 55  W 

20 

No.  71.] 


303 


N 78  W 78 

N 64  W 54 

NT  48  W 14 

N 3JW  120  to  Mast-hope  creek 

N 27  W 20 

N 49  E 177  Cut  strait  cross 

ye.  River  makes  a Curve  of  40  p — 

N 2 E 44 

N 10*  W 37 

[Page.] 

N 184  W 118 

N 38*  E to  yorke  Side  at 
ye  mouth  of  10  mile  River 

[On  a loose  leaf,  probably  the  last  .leaf  of  the  preceding  field-book,  I find  the 
following  : — ] 

Names  places  up  River 
Tyshaw  — ye  upper  end  of  minisink  is  a 
hole  on  Penn fyl vania  side  were 
a snake  is  reported  to  have  gone 
down 

near  Mahockamack  river 

Mingaup  a River 

Equinock  by  ye.  called  — 

Shohockin  at  ye.  forks  of  Popacktunk  & 
ye  Mohawk  or  Cookhouse  branch. 

III. 

Journal  up  Delaware 
May  1784 

B.  Fryday  Hired  John  Delong 
for  3 shillings  Day  and  gave 
him  3 Dollars 

[Page] 

On  Wednesday  the  26  May 
In  Company  with  Cap  Craig  We 
Set  of  from  my  House  came  to 
Nazareth  paid  for  fish  hooks 
Expences  at  Nazareth 
at  Hellers  Expences 
& came  to  Fort  Pen  at  Strowds 
27  Thursday  hired  Wm.  Drake 

& a horse  from  Garret  Broadhead 
bought  £ C1  Flower  & Bag 
paid  to  black  Smith  for  Shoes  ) 
and  Nails  j 

for  Gun  Powder 
Expences  at  Strouds 


£1-  2 -.6 


0 16 
0 2 
8 6 


0 15  0 

3 9 


304 


[Senate 


& came- to  Gan  fal  lest 

28  Fry  day  bought  of  Ganzalles 

7£  ft  of  bacon  at  1/'^  P> 

paid  at  Ganzales  for  Oats  provifi 

on 

and  came  to  Shoholy 

29  Saturday  paid  at  Shoholy  for 

Horse  pasture 
for  Milk 

paid  at  Mouth  Lackawaxen  for  to 
Crofs  the  Lechawack  in  a Canoe 
Crofsing  the  Delaware  at  10  Mile  River 
in  a Canoe  & Swam  the  Horses 

[Page] 


Lodged  this  Night  in  an  Old 
Cabin  about  2 Miles  below  the 
Coshecktunk  falls 

30  Sunday  came  to  Mitchels 

breakfast  & from  thence  to 
Dan!  Skinners  the  River  is 
fo  high  we  could  not  Crofs  with 
Horses  losiah  parks  who  lives 
at  Equinun  k Engaged  to  go 
home  to  morrow  morning 
with  a Canoe  & to  help  us.  to 
Crofs  ftaid  at  Mr  Rofs’s  we 
arived  here  at  Rofses  about 
3 O Clock 

31  Munday  Hired  losiah  Parks 

in  the  Morning  with  his  Canoe 
& came  this  day  to  the  Mouth  of 
Equinunk  to  Parks  paid  for 
Milk  at  night  & in  the  Morning 

O O 

St 

June  1 Tuesday  came  to  Shohockmg 
& Capt.  Craig  killed  a Bear  on 
which  we  Dined  hartily  tfc  then 
came  to  Mr.  Rittenholise  & 

Cap  Hollands  Obfervitory  & 
Encamped  I hunted  near 

Hours  before  I found  the  Corner 

2 d Wendnesday  began 
to  Run  the  line 
N 86°  20  W at  300 


[ Page] 


a small  brook  running 
into  York  1 Mile  to  post 
304  to  large  Creek*  Empty 


0 


0 

0 

0 

0 

£. 


0 


7 6 
5 8 

2 0 
1 0 

1 0 

2 0 

h D. 


3 9 


* Sand  Pond  Brook. 


No.  71.] 


305 


ing  at  little  Cookhouse 

2 Mile  Birch 
rained  Hard  this  da}7 

3 Thursday  at  82  r in  Pen 

3 Miles  to  Beech  by  large  Rocks 
at  143  run  in  ( 

at  308  Creek  in  Penn 

4 Mile  Beech 

at  160  Top  Ridge  5 Mile  Sugar 
at  80  over  ridge  a little  North  a Spring 
at  120  Pond  Creek  South  at  137  Spring 
North  195  Dividing  Ridge  144  Creek 
in  6 Mile  Beech  at  112  run  in 
at  300  s.  r North  & a little  South 
a spring  South  7 Mile  Beech 

4 Fry  day  at  62  run  South  at  90 

s r N.  W 8 Mile  beech  little  over 
ridge  West  side  Stony  at  107  s r 
South  at  1 28  s r South  9 Mile  Beech 
on  Top  of  Hill  (then  Stony)  at  248 
Spring  S.  W.  10  Mile  Birch  marked 
on  4 sides  — X at  37  Small  r South 
good  land 

[Page] 

at  120  River  Hill  at  244  s r 
North  11  Mile  Beech  at 
50  Creek  South  at  64  s r in 
at  70  Creek*  South 

5 Saturday  at  314  Top  of  River 

Hill  12  Mile  Asp  at  110  s.  r S.  W. 

211  post  between  Sngr.  & 

Hickoryf  down  River  S 12  E.  up  River 
N 25  W Iosiah  Parks 
Who  came  with  me  to  take  care  of  the 
Horses  thro  the  W oods  afsured  me  we  were 
below  the  Tuscarora  Town];  & said  he  had 
been  at  it  that  the  Creek  came  in  at  the 
East  side  of  the  River  at  the  Foot  of  the 
hill  he  & Capt.  Craig  & my  felf  went  up, 
about  2 Miles  thro’  the  thick  Woods  & returned 
but  could  not  See  any  sines  of  any  person 
being  up  but  discovered  some  Indians  Tracks 
on  this  night  lodged  about  £ mile  below 
the  line  — 

* Cascade  Creek. 

fUpon  a ragged  map  made  up  of  a compilation  of  Palmer’s  surveys  there  is  a 
note  at  this  point  of  a “ Small  dead  Lynn  marked  Sam1  Harris  with  red  ledd.” 

\ Probably  Ouaquaga  opposite  Windsor.  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  S'3 


306 

This  day  discharged  Iosiali  parks 

tfc  paid  him  35/" 

&  John  Land  paid  him 

[Page.] 

6 Sunday  Traveled  down  the 

River  to  where  we  concluded  the 
old  Tuscorora  Town*  Stood  & traveled 
about  4 Miles  further  down  the  River 
could  perceive  nothing  of  Mr  Walace 
we  now  had  no  more  provision 
but  J lb  bread  a piece  & Crosed  the 
River  & hill  & Steered  Southerly 
for*Wioming  & traveled  about 
6 Miles  & the  Pack  horse  gave  out 
& we  left  him  & then  turned  S.  E.  & 
Stood  for  Laca waxen  creek  & Encamped 
on  one  of  the  head  branches  of  Tunkhan 
nuck  & Eat  up  the  last  of  our  bread  here 
is  good  land  - — by  fm1  Pond. 

7 Munday  — Kept  our  course  crosed  fevereal 

high  hills  though  good  land  and  about 
11  O. Clock  came  to  the  head  of  Mane 
branch  Tunkhan  uck  creek  here  we 
caught  three  small  Trout,  which 
Served  for  breakfast  & dinner  & 
then  turned  down  the  Creek  & encamped 
about  4 Miles  down  the  Creek  Shot 
3 Pidgeons  & catched  1.  Trout  Supper 

[Page.] 

8 Tuesday  — traveled  on  & about. 

10  OClock  Wm  Drake  found  a land 
Tortle  which  he  Cooked  & Capt  Craig  & 
he  Eat.  Iohn  Delong  picked  Kettles  & 
he  & I Eat  them  — & traveled  on  till 
below  the  Forks  & Encamped  blow 
John  Delongs  Encampen  place  here 
he  knew  the  Creek  to  be  Tunkhannuck 
we  Eat  nothing  — 

9 Wendesday  — Traveled  on  & found 

a Sort  of  Water  Tortle  & opened  it  & 
found  Seven  Eggs  therein  which  we  eat 
about  9 OClock  here  Caph  Craig  left  us 
& travailed  about  4 Miles  down  the  Creek 
to  Austin  hunts  & lent  a bov  out  to  us 
with  about  a Quart  of  Parched  Indian 
Corn,  which  much  revived  us  & we  came 
in  to  hunts  about  2 OClock  & Eat  some 
more  Indian  Corn  — & then  travailed 
on  to  about  4 or  5 mile  to  the  mouth  of 


[Senate 


1 “ 15  ‘ 0 
1 c 15  0 


* Oq  the  site  of  Great  Bend  Borough,  Penn. 


No.  71. J 


307 


the  Creek  at  Mr.  Earles  here  we  got  some 
bread  & milk 

10.  Thursday  hired  Mr.  Earls  son  to  take 
our  Sadies  & Sadie  bags  to  Wioming 

o # O 

& that  & expences  there  we  paid 

27 f 6 & came  to  Mr  Hollobacks  1 “ 17  “ 6 

[Page.] 

11.  Friday  at  Mr  Hollehacks  at 

wioming  had  the  Flucks 

purchased  30  lb  of  Flower  for 

Iohn  Delong  and  Wm  Drake  to  return 


with  a Letter 

12.  Iohn  Delong  & Drake  let  of  with 
Letter  paid  Mr  Hallamback  for 

Flour  & Expences  . £4  “ 12 — 6 

paid  Iohn  Delong 0 — 17 — 2 

paid  Wm  Drake 0 — 15 — 0 

paid  for  Iohn  Delong  Expences 0 7 — 0 

paid  for  Wm  Drake  . 0 2 — 3 

for  Bottle  2/*  & 1 quart  rum  2 /*  6 0 4 “ 6 

& for  our  horses  at  Wioming ....  0 7 “ 6 

paid  at  Bullocks  for 0.  0.  9 

13  Sunday  paid  at  Browns  on  ) 

Locas  hill  where  we  ftaid  on  > 0 7.6 

Saturday  night ) 

at  white  oak  run.  0 a 0 “ 10 

at  Learns  Dinner  & Horses 0 — 6 “ 0 


& came  to  Hellars  at  Windgap 
here  we  staid  all  night  here  I 
was  Obliged  to  leave  my  Horse 

[Page.  ] 

Brought  forwards 

14  Monday  paid  at  Hellers £0  “ 9 “ 0 

28  lune  William  Drake  returned  to 
me  from  Susquehanna  with  a 
Letter  from  T.  Matlock  & paid 
him  the  Residue  of  his  wages 
which  in  the  whole 

was  £5  “ 7 “ 6 paid  him 4 “ 12  “ 6 

& paid  Iohn  Delong  the  Refidue 
of  his  Money  in  the  whole 

was  £5  “ 5—0  Refidue 3 “ 0 “ 6 

[Page.] 

I paid  of  W,n  Drakes  Money  17/*  6 
Cap1  Craig  paid  the  rest 

[The  above  journal  was  kept  in  a little  book  made  by  folding  sheets  of  writing 
paper.  The  pages  are  by  7 inches.  The  notes  are  plainly  written  in  ink  ; 
but  the  portion  relating  to  the  survey  of  the  line  west  from  the  Delaware  was 
evidently  first  kept  in  pencil  and  afterward  traced  over  with  ink.  A fac  simile 
of  the  plat  of  the  line  accompanying  the  above  field  notes,  is  given  in  Sketch 
No.  3.] 


30S 


[Senate 


IV. 

John  Delong  & 

William  Drake 
Iournal  up  Susquehanna 
[Outside  page. J & acrofs  to  Delaware 

12  Iune  left  Wioming  & 

23  Encamped  on  Delaware. 

June  ye  12th  1784 

Jngaged  With  Mr  Palmer  at  4/o  pr  Day  Logded  at  Capows — ye 
13  Be  ing  Clovdy  Jn  the  fore  part  of  the  Day  not  Being  able  to  find 
the  Road  Nor  Stear  onr  Coarse  Lay  By  untill  in  the  of  ter  Noon  when 
marched  in  Order  To  follow  Louchawaney  to  The  Head  of  The 
Balld  Mountain  when  at  Evening  about  the  Time  of  Jncomping 
Shat  a Doue.  which  we  Roastd  part  in  order  to  toke  On  our  march 
ye.  14th  we  march t up  The  Laughany  about  6 miles  & found  it  to 
run  two  Much  from  the  East  for  our  Corse  we  struck  of  and  marcht 
North  & Nor  west  a Bought  12  miles  & Jncompt  on  the  East  Branch 
of  Tunk  honnock  yee  16th  Had  to  Lay  By  this  Day  By  reason  of 
Rocks  ye  16th  Being  Cloudy  But  persued  on  our  Jorney  not  Being 
able  to  keep  our  corse  travel  about  ten  or  12  miles  & Struck  [Main 
Branch  which  we  came  Down]  Tunk  honnock  about  12  or  14  Miles 
aboue  the  Mouth  then  traveled  about  — 5 or  six  miles  & Jncompt  ye 
17th  Travelled  up  Tunk  honnock  To  the  head  & Jncamped — lbth 
Treaveled  on  & Struck  Hungry  Jsland  on  Syseohonnok  abought  12 
O. Clock  & finding  That  Wallaces  party  had  Bin  up  to  line  & Re- 
turned & we  followed  Down  the  River  About  10  miles  & Saw  no 
fresh  Sines  of  him  Concluded  they  Where  gone  of  concluded  to 
Open  the  letter  & See  Jf  the  Contents  was  very  urgent  To  Be  De- 
lever’d & finding  Jt  much  That  way  Concluded  to  persue  On  & 
Shot  a Doe  at  Eving  & ye  19th  Early  in  the  morning  Disoverd  Two 
Jndians  Coming  up  the  River  in  Cannues  Bring  ing  them  too  who 
Told  us  wallases  Party  where  incompt  about  five  miles  Below  us  the 
Night  Before  we  Traveled  Down  To  where  they  where  Jncompt  the 
Night  Before  But  they  where  Moved  we  persued  on  about  6 miles 
& Over  Took  the  party  Which  was  a bought  12  O Clock  Concluded 
to  Stay  & Refresh  our  Selves  & was  very  well  used  By  Mr  Matlock 
20  Being  furnished  with  Provisions  & a Conteen  of  Spirits  Returned 
up  the  river  To  the  line  & lodged  near  the  8 mile  tree  21th  when 
Taking  a Sirkle  of  a bought  8 miles  struck  the  line  a bout  a Quarter 
Of  a mile  west  'of  the  4 milee  Tree  & finding  The  land  the  most 
Part  of  the  way  very  good  Beech  Land  & good  Swompy  land  for 
Medow  when  following  Down  the  North  Branch  of  little  Cookhous 
To  the  forks  and  finding  the  vally  To  Be  narrow  But — very  good 

[The  above  Itinerary  is  written  in  a very  fair  hand  in  a little  book  made  by 
folding  a sheet  of  foolscap  in  8 leaves.  The  “ Little  Cookhouse  ” Creek  mentioned 
is  now  called  Sand  Pond  Brook,  which  Crosses  the  Boundary  near  the  2 Mile  Point. 

The  title  is  in  Mr.  Palmer’s  hand  writing  on  the  outside  of  the  book.] 


No.  71.1 


309 


On  the  ridges  Then  followed  up  the  west  Branch  a Bought  3 miles 
on  which  was  very  good  Mill  Seats  tind  ing  the  lond  Very  good 
Both  for  upland  & grafs  land  & Jncompt  ye  22d  Steered  South 
East  un  till  Strick  Small  Spring  run  a Bout  1 £ Miles  Distonce  from 
Sd  west  Bronch  followed  Jt  Down  whereon  Jt  to  Be  good  land  To 
Be  very  Good  & medow  land  find  it  to  run  North  to  where  it  Emties 
into  the  main  Bronch  about  half  a mile  South  west  of  The  Line 
when  following  Down  The  little  Cookhouse  Branch  to  The  river 
runing  Eastwardly  finding  it  to  Be  a very  good  way  & Traveled 
Down  the  river  About  6 miles  & Jncomped  ye  23d. 

V.. 

Iune  20th.  1784.  — 

Dear  Nephew  — I received  thine  of  the  181.11  Last  Evening,  & was 
glad  to  here  that  thee  got  home  & was  recovering  thy  health,  but 
was  sorry  on  thy  account,  as  well  as  my  Own,  that  thy  Iourney  was 
fruitlefs,  as  well  as  Very  fateaguing  & Dangerous,  I thought  the 
time  of  meeting  was  to  Short  for  them,  tlioh  it  might  have  done  for 
thee  if  the  Wether  had  been  dry  & Good.  When  the  31st.  of  May 

Came  I was  Thinking  of  You  Meeting When  a person 

Brought  me  a Letter  from  Gaynor  Keene,  & mforma.  me  he  faw 
Matlack  & Wallis  & their  gang,  at  Northumberland  Town,  on  the 
27th  of  May,  Then  I was  Sure  they  Could  not  reach  the  place  in 

lefs  then  a Whole  Week  after  the  time  appointed  I would 

wish  when  thee  Can  find  fo  much  Leafure,  thee  Would  send  me  an 
acc.l  of  the  Hills,  Rocks,  Wood,  Snakes,  Land,  Timbers,  Waters,  &c 
how  you  hit  the  Susquana,  if  near  Wallis’s  Marks,  the  Course  up  & 
down  the  River  So  far  as  you  Took  them,  the  Quallity  of  the  Land, 
Water,  Mountains,  Timber,  &c  from  where  you  Left  the  River  to 
the  mouth  of  Tunkhanock.  A Scetch  or  Draft  from  the  Stone  to 

Susquahana  would  be  Very  acceptable I Shall  take  Care  to 

Send  thy  Letter 

And  Remain  Lovingly  thine,  to  serve 

JN°  LUKENS. 

George  Palmer. 

P.  S.  Pray  let  me  know  at  what > 
house  or  place  Letters  or  paper  I 
may  be  direct’d,  to,  or  left  for 
Thee  Either  at  Estown  or  Elswar.  __ 

For 

[. Superscription ] George  Palmer,  Surveyor 

Northampton 

Hond  by  | County 

Cap!  Town,  j These. 

[John  Lukens  was  Surveyor  General  of  Penn.,  from  1761  to  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1789  Sketch  No.  3 was  probably  prepared  in  response  to  this  letter,  as 
well  a^  the  notes  on  pages  303-7.] 


310 


[Senate 


V I. 

“ George  Palmer 
Field  Notes  beginning 

[Outside  Page\  the  3d  of  October  1785  ending 

the  15  lime  1786 

Win  Craig  adjoining  the 
State  line ” 

[This  little  book  of  64  pages  is  made  of  sheets  of  foolscap  twice  folded,  and  was 
kept  in  ink.  It  contains  the  notes  of  surveys  of  a large  number  of  Warrants  in 
the  present  County  of  Wayne,  Penn.,  among  which  are  the  following  : — J 

“ State  Line  Warrant  dated  the  1 July 

1784  mrveyed  the  13  October  1785 
to  Thos  Craig  began  at  2 mile  birch* 

1 S 864  E 26  to  two  Small  Sugrs  at  . 17  Creek  out 

thence  by  Vacant  Land 

1.  S.  Si.  W.  266  Sm1.  Hem. 

2.  N 864  W.  281  Hem.  at  32  run  in 

3.  N.  34  E.  266  Stone  in  State  line 

61  p.  East  of  3d  Mile  Beech,  (at.  198 
s.  r in  at.  206  Creek  in  at.  222  s & 
s.  r.  in” 

“State  line  Warrant  dated  the 
1 Inly  1784  Surveyed  the  15  OctoT 

1785  to  William  Craig  Begin  at.  Stone  Corner  of 
Tlios  Craigs  Land  on  State  line  thence 

by  same 

1.  S 34  W.  253  to  Stone  in  line 

at.  thence  by 

Land. 

2.  N 864  W.  296  Stone  by  Hem.  (at. 

91.  run  in  N.  W.  at  99  s r.  in  at  105 
s.  in  at.  168  main  Creek  in  N".  E.  at. 

179  s r.  N.  at.  1S2  same.  s.  r.  South 
at.  227  run  S.  E.  thence  by 
34  E.  256  Stone  in  State  line 
86  p East  of  4 mile  Beech,  (at. 

27  s.  in  at  51  run  in  at.  215  Creek 
in  thence  along  the  State  line 
c.  864  E 296  to  begin  — 

Returned  438?  52  Ps ■” 

“State line  Warrant  dated  the  1 

Iuly  1784  Surveyed  the  15  October 

* First  written  beech  and  corrected  to  birch.  This  was  probably  the  birch  op- 
posite Milestone  2,  the  remains  of  which  were  identified  in  1877.  H.  W.  C.  (See 

2 Mile  Birch,  page  305.) 


No.  71.] 


311 


1785  to  Iohn  Towne  Begin  at. 

Stone  by  Hem.  thence  by  Ya 
1.  N.  86£  W.  280  Stone  by  Beech 
(at.  130  Dry.  r.  in  N.  E. 

2  N.  3£  E.  253  Stone  in  State  line 
at.  112.  s.  r.  in  at.  118  Swamp  run 
in  S.  E.  thence  along  the  State 
line 

3.  S 86£  E 280  to  Stone  the  Corner 

of  Land  thence 

by  same 

4.  S.  Si  W.  256  to  begin 

N.  B.  the  first  line  N 86^  W 280 

to  Stone  by  Beech  by  mistake 
was  but  258  & the  Corner  was 
moved  37  Ps  westward  a Stone 
which  marks  the  line. 

N.  86£  W 295  to  Stone  thence 
N.  Si  E 252  to  Post  (not  run)  &c?. 
Returned  438?  52  Ps ” 

<{  State  line  Warrant  dated  the  1 Inly 
1784  Surveyed  the  18  October  1785  at 
to  Iohn  Craig  Beginning 

Stone  the  Corner  of  Iohn  Towne 
Land  thence  by  Michael  Harts  David  Wagner 
1.  N.  86£  W.  293  to  post.  at.  48 

Stone  Corner  of  — David  Wagner  Land, 
at.  89  s.  r out.  241  s.  r out 

2 N Si  E 252  Stone  in  State  line 

thence  by  same  — 

3 S 86i  E 293  post.  (37  ps  west 

of  where  the  line  "was  run  through 
by  mistake 

4 S.  Si  W.  252  to  beginning 

Returned  in 

“ State  line  on  the  dividing  ridge 

between  Delaware  & Susquehanna 
Warrant  dated  the  1 Iuly  17^4 
Surveyed  the  18  October  1785 
to-  Robert  Traill 
Beginning  at  post  the  Corner  of 
In0  Craigs  Land  thence  by  Y — 

David  Wagners  & Yacant  Land 
1 N.  86£  W.  297  Stone  at  160 

Top  ridge  at.  238  s.  little  in  at. 

270  run.  S.  W. 


312 


[Senate 


2 N 3£  E 252  Stone  in  State 

line  (at.  72  s.r  in  at  207  s.  r.  in 
thence  along  the  State  line  — 

3 S.  86^  E.  297  Stone,  at.  30  run 

in  at.  141  6 mile  Beech  at.  179 
s.  r in  218  s.  r in  tlience  by 
Land  — 

4  S.  3£  W.  252  post  beginning  ” 

“ George  Palmer 
Field  Notes  beginning  the 
[Outside  Page.]  16  Iune  1786 

ending  the 
16  Ianuary  1787 

James  Moore.” 


[This  is  a little  book  of  64  pages  similar  to  the  preceding.  Among  the  War- 
rant Surveys  is  the  following] 


“ North  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania 
on  the  Mohock  branch  of  Delaware  Biver 
Warrant  dated  the  1st  Inly  1784 
Surveyed  the  10  October  1786  to 
Samuel  Craig  — Beginning  at 
Stone  set  for  the  N.  E.  Corner  of  Pennsyl- 
vania thence  down  the  Mohock  branch 
of  Delaware  Biver 


1. 

S.  57.  E 

— 1101 

2. 

S.  67.  E 

— 94 

3. 

S.  73.  E 

48 

4. 

S.  68.  E 

— 12 

5 — 

S.  60  E 

23  ! 

6 — 

S.  E 

,40  r 

7 — 

S.  58  E — 

36 

8 — 

S.  30  E 

40 

9 — 

S.  12  E 

38 

10  — 

S.  21  E 

71 

512  Ps 
on  Biver 


Beech  thence  by 
Land 

11.  N.  87.  W.  395  Stone  at.  60  s.  r.  oiP 
at  154  s.  r.  out.  at  370  Creek  out 
12  N.  3.  E 292 J-  Stone  by  Hemlock 

in  the  State  line  (at.  26  part  Creek  in 
at  33  part  Creek  in)  thence  by  State  line 
13.  S.  87.  E.  11£  to  beginning 
Content.  455a  + E + W 


[Between  the  above  warrant  and  that  surveyed  to  Thos  Craig  lie  two  warrants 
adjoining  the  State  line,  surveyed  in  1794  by  Anthony  Crothers  for  Jos.  Leghman, 
282-fc  perches,  aud  F,  J.  Smith,  perches.] 


No.  71.] 


313 


APPENDIX  H. 


Extracts  from  Records  of  Surveys  of  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany, in  the  Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  Albany, 


N.  Y. 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 


Description  of  the  Marks  upon  Posts  and  Witness  Trees. 
Extracts  from  Augustus  Porter’s  Field  Book  (No.  2). 
Extract  from  Seth  Pease’s  Traverse  of  the  Shore  of  Lake 
Erie. 

Record  of  Surveys  of  South  line  of  Range  1. 


Y. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

2. 

VI. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

3. 

VII. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

4. 

VIII. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

5. 

IX. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

6. 

X. 

do 

do 

do 

Will  ink  Strip. 

XI. 

do 

do 

do 

Range 

7. 

XII. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

8. 

XIII. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

9. 

XIY. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

10. 

XY. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

11. 

XYI. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

12. 

XVII. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

13. 

XVIII. 

do 

do 

* do 

do 

14. 

XIX. 

do 

do 

South  and  West  lines  of  Ran 

Note. — Tlie  original  Field  notes  and  Records  of  the  Township  Surveys  of  the 
Holland  Land  Company  are  contained  in  15  Large  Record  Books  and  69  small 
Field  Books,  which  are  deposited  in  the  Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Albany, 
N.  Y. 

The  following  are  abstracts  from  these  Records  so  far  as  they  relate  to  the  State 
Line. 

The  original  Field  Books  of  the  subdivision  of  the  Townships  into  Sections  are 
in  the  possession  of  David  E.  E.  Mix,  Esq.,  Civil  Engineer,  at  Batavia,  N.  Y. 


I. 


DESCRIPTION  of  the  Marks  inscribed  on  the  POSTS  and 
Bounded  TREES  called  for  in  the  following  RECORD  of 
the  Surveys  of  Townships. 

FIRST.  The  posts  called  for  at  the  corners  of  Townships  are 
squared  and  marked  with  a marking  iron  in  the  following  manner, 
viz1  on  their  north  and  south  sides  with  the  number  answering  to 
those  of  the  Townships  north  or  south  of  the  corner  they  represent 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  40 


314 


[Senate 


and  on  their  east  and  west  sides  with  the  number  answering  to  the 
respective  Ranges  east  and  west  of  the  corner. 

SECOND.  The  bounded  trees  called  for  bounding  the  corners  of 
Townships  are  marked  — in  the  following  manner,  viz1.  The  side 
of  each  bounded  tree  respectively  fronting  the  corners  of  Town- 
ships is  marked  with  an  axe  with  three  notches  and  a blaze  above 
the  notches  ; and  on  their  sides  facing  the  body  of  the  Townships 
in  which  they  are  respectively  situated,  they  are  marked  with  a 
marking  iron  the  number  thereon  answering  to  that  of  the  Town- 
ship ; and  on  their  east  and  west  sides  as  the  case  may  be,  with  the 
number  answering  to  the  respective  Ranges  in  which  they  are  situ- 
ate east  or  west  of  the  corner. 

FOR  a more  clear  description  and  representation  see  the  follow- 
ing plan  designated  the  south  west  corner  of  Township  No.  4 in  the 
12th  Range  (being  also  the  northwest  corner  of  Township  No.  3 in 
the  same  Range,  and  the  north  east  and  southeast  corner  of  Town- 
ships No.  3 and  4 in  the  13th  Range)  with  the  relative  situation  of 
the  trees  bounding  said  corner. 


RANGE  No. 13 

TOWNSHIP  No.A 

s 


u(sV 


RANGE  No.  12 

m 

g)o  TOWNSHIP  No. A. 


West 


'•(£> 


East 


TOWNSHIP  No. 3. 


\ 


\ 


TOWNSHIP  No.  3. 


& 


Vi 


A represents  a squared  beech  post  standing  in  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  Township  No.  4 in  the  12th  Range  [being  also  the  north- 
west corner  of  Township  No.  3 in  the  same  Range,  and  the  north- 
east and  southeast  corner  of  Townships  No.  3 and  4 in  the  13th 
Range  as  may  be  seen  by  the  above  plan]  bearing  the  following  in- 
scription marked  with  a marking  iron  on  the  north  side,  thus  T No 
4,  on  the  south  side  T No  3,  on  the  east  side  R No  12  and  on  the 
west  side  R.  No  13. 


No.  71.] 


315 


B,  (7,  I),  and  E represent  the  four  trees  bounding  the  corner  at 
A and  show  their  relative  situations. 

A represents  a bounded  beech  bearing  from  the  cornered  post  A, 
S.  35°  E.  75  links,  and  marked  on  the  side  (a)  facing  the  corner 
with  three  notches  and  a blaze  above  the  notches ; also  on  the  side 
(5),  facing  the  body  of  the  Township,  it  is  marked  with  a marking 
iron  thus  T.  N°  3,  and  at  ( c ) being  the  east  side  of  the  beecli  tree 
aforesaid  it  is  marked  with  a marking  iron  thus  R J\°  12. 

D represents  another  bounded  beech  bearing  from  the  cornered 
post  A,  S 54°  W 12  links,  and  marked  on  the  side  (cl)  facing  the 
corner  with  three  notches  and  a blaze  above  the  notches ; also  on  the 
side  ( e ) facing  the  body  of  the  Township,  it  is  marked  with  a mark- 
ing iron  thus  T N°  3,  and  at  (i)  being  the  west  side  of  the  beech 
tree  aforesaid  it  is  marked  with  a marking  iron  thus  R N°  13. 

B represents  another  bounded  beech  bearing  from  the  cornered 
post  A,  N.  37°  E.  38  links  and  marked  on  the  side  (m)  facing  the 
corner,  with  three  notches  and  a blaze  above  the  notches;  also  on 
the  side  ( n ) facing  the  body  of  the  Township  it  is  marked  with  a 
marking  iron  thus  T N°  4,  and  at  ( o ) being  the  east  side  of  the 
beech  tree  aforesaid  it  is  marked  with  a marking  iron  thus  R E°  12. 

C.  represents  a bounded  sugar  maple  bearing  from  the  cornered 
post  A,  N.  71°  30'  W.  46  links,  and  marked  on  the  side  ( r ) facing 
the  post  with  three  notches  and  a blaze  above  the  notches,  also  on 
the  side  (s)  facing  the  body  of  the  Township  it  is  marked  with  a 
marking  iron  thus  T JV°  4,  and  at  (u)  being  the  west  side  of  the 
aforesaid  bounded  sugar  maple  it  is  marked  with  a marking  iron 
thus  R N°  13. 

IN  the  same  manner  are  all  the  corners  of  Townships  perpetu- 
ated, excepting  that  the  several  corner  posts  and  bounded  trees  are 
marked* with  the  numbers  answering  to  the  respective  Ranges  and 
Townships  they  represent. 

ALL  the  posts  of  the  intermediate  corners  called  for  in  the  Rec- 
ord of  the  Survey  of  Townships  are  notched  with  twelve  notches, 
three  on  the  north,  three  on  the  south,  three  on  the  east,  and  three 
on  the  west  sides  of  said  posts,  and  the  trees  bounding  the  interme- 
diate corners  are  marked  on  their  respective  sides  fronting  the  cor- 
ner post  with  three  notches,  and  a blaze  above  the  notches. 

ALL  the  line  trees  (or  which  were  generally  called  sight-trees)  are 
marked  with  four  notches  and  two  blazes,  that  is  to  sav,  two  notches 
and  a blaze  above  the  notches  on  one  side  of  the  tree,  and  two 
notches  and  a blaze  above  the  notches  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  tree. 

THE  other  marked  trees  designating  the  boundary  lines  of  Town  - 
ships are  blazed  on  three  sides,  two  blazes  with  the  line  and  one 
fronting  the  line. 

JOSEPH  ELL1COTT. 

[From  Record  of  Range  12.] 

[In  Record  of  Range  11  this  Description  is  signed] 

“ JOSEPH  ELLICOTT 
Surveyor  for  the 
Holland  Land  Company  ” 


316 


[Senate 


II. 

Extracts  from  Augustus  Porter’s  Field  Book. 

[Small  H.  L.  Co.,  F.  B.  No.  2.] 

July  5l~  1798.  Began  at  Gorham  & Phelps  South  west  corner 
which  is  a post  and  Beech  tree,  standing  on  the  North  Boundary 
line  of  Pennsylvania  which  was  set  by  John  Adlum  Novr  1791 

From  thence  measured  west  along  said  North  Boundary  line 
Is!  Mile  Immediately  on  leaving  the  corner  descend  a hill 
obliquely.  22  Ch?  11  links  to  the  127  Mile  Stone,  75  Ch3  to  hem- 
lock bottom,  80  01is  sett  a Black  ash  post  and  marked  it  1.  M. 

2?.d  Mile  5 Cli®  57  Iks  To  the  S East  Branch*  of  Genefseo  river 
running  South  west.  At  9 Ch?  the  same  running  N.  West.  At 
22.21  the  128  Mile  Stone.  At  12  Ch?  the  Genefseo  river  about  2 
Ch?  & 50  Iks  below  the  Confluence  of  the  aforesaid  South  East 
Branch  and  the  South  branch,  the  S E branch  and  the  two  branches 
united  crofs  the  line  as  represented  below 


Encamped  at  the  River.  Friday  Iuly  6*1)  Continued  our  measure- 
ment. At  50  Ch?  a hemlock  swamp  which  continues  through  the 
Mile.  At  80  Ch?  sett  a hemloclopost  and  Marked  it  2 M. 

3d  Mile  At  1.5  begin  to  afcend  a hill  obliquely,  timber  hemlock 
& Beech.  22.12  to  the  129  Mile  Stone,  72.50  to  a spring  run  r.g 
North.  At  80  Ch?  sett  a post  marked  3 M. 

!<£  Mile,  land  good  timber  hemlock  and  Beech,  at  22.75  to  the 
130  Mile  Stone,  at  80  Ch?  sett  a hemlock  post  marked  1 M. 

5th  Mile.  23  Ch?  23  Iks  to  the  131  Mile  Stone  land  tolarably  good, 
timber  hemlock  and  Beech.  Set  a Beech  post  at  80  Ch? 

6V?  Mile . 11  Ch.  to  a Creekf  25  Iks  Wide  r.s  N E.  At  23.11  the 
132  Mile  Stone.  At  80.  Sett  a post. 

7«1  Mile.  At  22.91  To  the  133  Mile  Stone.  At  33  Ch?  a run 
runs  North,  where  we  encamped  for  Night.  Saturday  Inly  7^  pro- 
ceed on  the  line.  Land  stony  timber  hemlock  and  Beech.  At  80 
Ch?  Set  a post  mrkd  7 M. 

8^  Mile  At  22.66  to  the  131  Mile  Stone.  At  80  Ch?  sett  a post 
marked  8 M. 


* Cryder  Creek. 


f Ore  Bed  Creek. 


No.  71.] 


317 


9tl1  Mile . land  hard  and  Stony  and  some  ridgy,  timber  Chestnut, 
Blk.  Oak  & hemlock.  Sett  a post  at  80  Ch.  markd  9 M. 

10.th  Mile.  23.35  to  the  136  Mile  Stone  At  64.50  to  Creek*  30 
links  W.d  course  North.  At  72.75  a Stone  marked,  on  the  North. 
NEW. YORK  136  M.  50  Ch!  On  the  South  PENNSYLVANIA 
Lat.  42?  Var.  0°  45'  West.  1787.  At  80  Chs  sett  a post  and  marked 
it  10  M. 

11th  Mile  At  21.40  to  the  137  Mile  Stone.  At  76,  a Creek  10 
Iks  Wide  course  North.  At  80  Chs.  sett  a post  marked  11.  M. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  11th  Mile  we  encamped  for  night 
Sunday  Iuly  8 proceeded  on  the  Measurement.  12l?  Mile  At  20 
chs  40  Iks  the  138  Mile  Stone  at  80  ch!  sett  a stake  and  return  about 
40  perches  on  the  line  and  encamp  it  being  1 oclock,  and  Very  rainy, 
while  we  were  making  our  fire  we  were  Joined  by  Mr.  Sterrett  of 
Philadelphia  Mr  Crider  of  Steuben  County  and  Mr  Ray,  all  of  them 
encamped  with  us. 

Munday  Iuly  9th  Mr  Sterrit,  Crider  & Ray  sett  off  for  the 
Genefseo  River  and  went  in  a N Easterly  course  Mr  Burgis  and 
myself  wishing  if  possible  to  find  a road  for  our  pack  horses  which 
we  expect  in  to  morrow  sett  off  with  these  Gentlemen  we  proceed 
N.  E.  about  half  a Mile  and  come  to  a Considerable  of  a stream  S 
West  on  this  Creekf  there  is  considerable  fiatt  land  which  we  find 
to  extend  NE  & SW.  Wre  proceeded  about  2 Miles  up  the  Creek 
find  the  travelling  good,  we  therefore  Conclude  that  our  horses  may 
come  down  this  Valley  and  escape  some  bad  hills  which  we  crofsed 
on  the  line,  from  thence  we  return  to  our  last  Nights  Camp. 

The  following  is  the  Measurement  of  the  Pennsylvania  line 
continued  from  the  stone  at  the  commencement  of  the  12  Mile 
meridian  which  is  12  Miles  West  of  Gorham  & Phelps’s  S.  W. 
Corner  marked,  on  the  East  N?  1.  S.  W.  Corner,  On  the  West 
W & J.  Willink  S.  E.  Corner.  On  the  South  Pensa  Lat  42° 
On  the  top  Meridian  12  Miles.  Var.  0?  15'  West. 

[Here  follow  sketch  notes  as  far  as  28  miles,  where  he  runs  north.] 

III. 

Extract  from  Seth  Pease’s  Field  Book  of  the  Traverse  of 

Lake  Erie. 

[Small  H.  L.  Co.,  F.  B.  No.  69.] 

The  Traverse  of  Lake  Erie  Beginning  at  the  North  West  Corner 
of  the  State  of  New  York  and  north  of  a Monument  Stone  (which 
is  now  broken  to  pieces)  39  Links  we  set  a stake  at  the  Place  of  be- 
ginning. Said  Monument  appears  to  have  been  erected  by  Mr 
Andrew  Ellicott  August  23d  1790  Latitude  42°-  16'-  13"  North 
Variation  0?  25'  West.  We  arrived  too  late  at  evening  to  make  the 


* Crandall  Creek. 


f Honeoye  Creek. 


318 


[Senate 


necefsary  preparations  forsaking  the  Variation,  but  I began  the 
Traverse  on  a supposed  Variation  of  20  minutes  East.  July  27th  1798 
Friday  night  clouds  prevented  our  taking  au  Observation  of  the 
Pole  Star. 

28th  Saturday  night  at  10  o c & 13'  the  North  star  Elongation  one 
Degree  & 55'  Magnetically  a short  time  after  it  was  tiie  same,  the 
clouds  prevented  observing  sooner  Sunday  noon  I found  my  watch 
9 minutes  too  slow.  Saturday  we  had  two  considerable  thunder 
Showers  in  the  Afternoon. 

29th  Sunday,  we  carried  the  Traverse  to  the  mouth  of  Chatauqua 
Creek. 

[Then  follow  the  tabulated  notes  of  the  Traverse.  Certificate  dated] 

Tuesday 
Sept  '4th.,  1798 
Seth  Peafe. 


IV. 

Surveyed 

TOWNSHIP  N°.  1 in  the  1st  RANGE. 

[Bolivar,  Allegany  Co.,  1 R.  S.  358  (6th  Ed.).] 

Beginning  on  the  north  boundary  line  of  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania twelve  miles  west  of  Gorham  and  Phelps’s  southwest  corner 
at  a stone  marked  on  the  South  side  u PENSA  Lat.  42,”  on  the  west 
side  UW.  & J.  WILLINKS  SE.  Corner,”  on  the  east  side  aN°  1 
S.  W.  Corner,”  and  on  the  top  “ MERIDIAN  12  Miles  West  of  G. 
& P.  S.  W.  Corner,  Var,  0°,  15'  W.  1798,”  being  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  said  Township,  and  running  thence  from  the  aforesaid 
marked  stone  West -bounding  south  on  the  north  boundary  line  of 
Pennsylvania  aforesaid. 

40  At  forty  chains  a yellow  birch  sapling,  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock  east  eight  links,  and  another 
hemlock  north  forty  five  degrees  west  twenty  four  links. 

80  At  eighty  chains  a white  ash  post  from  which  three  bounded 
trees  bear,  a hemlock  north  twenty  six  degrees  west  sixteen 
links,  a beech  south  sixty  two  degrees  east  twenty  five  links,  and 
a maple  south  sixtv  six  degrees  west  twenty  five  links. 

120  At  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains  an  ironwood  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  alynn  sapling  north  sixty  three 
degrees  east  eight  links,  and  a hemlock  south  fourteen  degrees 
west  thirty  links. 

160  At  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  an  ironwood  post,  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  twenty  nine  de- 
grees east  ten  links,  and  a white  pine  twenty  six  links. 

200  At  two  hundred  chains  an  ironwood  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a white  pine  South  eighty  seven  degrees 
west  twenty  seven  links,  and  a maple  south  seven  degrees  west 
twenty  two  links. 


No.  71.] 


319 


24-0  At  two  hundred  and  forty  chains,  a hemlock  post,  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  an  oak  north  seventy  one  degrees 
west  thirty  three  links,  and  a hemlock  north  twelve  degrees 
west  ten  links. 

280  At  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains,  a beech  tree  marked  15£ 
M.  G.  & P.  Corr. 

320  At  three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a beech  post,  from 
which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  forty  two  degrees 
east  fifteen  links,  an  ironwood  south  four  degrees  east  eigh- 
teen links,  and  another  beech  south  eighty  west  sixteen  links. 

360  At  three  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a chesnut  post,  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a white  oak  north  forty  eight 
degrees  east  twenty  six  links,  and  a sugar  maple  north  twenty 
eight  degrees  west  twenty  two  links. 

400  At  four  hundred  chains  a white  ash  post  from  which  three 
bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  ten  degrees  east  twenty  five 
links,  a hemlock  north  sixty  seven  degrees  east  nine  links,  and 
a yellow  birch  south  eighteen  degrees  east  twenty  nine  links. 

440  A four  hundred  and  forty  chains  a post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a white  pine  South  forty  five  degrees  east 
twenty  three  links  and  a hickory  south  seventy  five  degrees 
west  ten  links. 

480  Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  to  a white  ash  post, 
being  the  southwest  corner  of  said  Township,  and  the  south- 
east corner  of  Township  N°  1 in  the  Second  range,  from  which 
post  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  thirty  seven  degrees 
East  twenty  three  links,  and  another  beech  north  eighty  five  de- 
grees west  twenty  two  links ; and  running  thence  from  the 
aforesaid  white  ash  post  North  

I certify  that  the  foregoing  is  an  accurate  description  of  Township 

N°  1 in  the  first  Range,  compared  with  and  corrected  from  the  orig- 
inal field  notes. 

( Surveyor 

JOSEPH  ELLICOTT.  - for 

( Holld  Ld  Comp7 


■60  Chains  ^—120  Chains  ,—200  Chains  Distance  of  Qualities 


320 


[Senate 


rn 

a 


o 


40.  . 
40. . 

40. . 

24.. 

16. . 
8. . 
8.. 

17. . 

5.. 


27.. 


13.. 

14. . 


26.. 

8.. 


32.. 


10. . 

20.. 

10.. 


Range  1, 

REMARKS  on  TOWKSHIP  N°  1. 
Beginning  in  the  north  boundary  line 

[etc.,  as  above]  

and  commencing  with 


m 

& 

a 

— Upland  of  the  second  Quality, 

Timber  hemlock,  beech,  pine,  oak,  chesnut  and  maple. 
Thence  gradually  descending  a hill  facing  northwesterly, 
. . to  a yellow  birch  sapling, 

. . to  a white  ash  post, 

. . to  an  ironwood  post, 

. . to  a creek*  one  perch  wide  running  southwesterly, 

. . to  an  ironwood  post, 

70  to  a runf  running  southwesterly, 

77  to  the  141st  mile  tree, 

53  to  a run  running  southwesterly,  and  to  the  ascent  of  a 
hill  facing  southeasterly  thence  ascending, 

. . to  an  ironwood  post, 

. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation,  and 
to  the  descent  of  the  same  hill  facing  southerly,  south- 
westerly, and  westerly  ; thence  descending, 

. . to  a hemlock  post, 

. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 
to  a run  running  southwesterly,  and  to  the  ascent  of 
another  hill  facing  southeasterly,  southerly,  and  south- 
westerly ; thence  along  the  side  of  said  hill, 

. . to  a beech  post, 

. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation  ; 
to  a run  running  southeasterly,  and  to  the  ascent  of  a 
ridge  facing  northeasterly  ; thence  ascending 
. . to  a beech  post,  and  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  3d  Quality, 

Timber  hemlock,  oak  and  beech, 

. . to  the  top  of  said  ridge  unfit  for  cultivation,  and  to  the 
descent  of  the  same  facing  southwesterly,  and  southerly; 
thence  along  the  top  of  the  same 
..  to  the  descent  of  the  same  facing  westerly;  thence 
gently  descending 

. . to  a chesnut  post,  still  descending 
. . to  the  commencement  of 


* Honeoye  Creek. 


f North  Branch  of  Honeoye  Creek. 


No.  71.1 


321 


Upland  of  the  first  Quality, 

Timber  beech,  maple  and  elm. 

to  a white  ash  post  at  the  bottom  of  said  ridge  not  too 
steep  for  tillage, 


. . to  a creek*  one  perch  wide,  running  southwesterly 
60  to  the  144  mile  stone, 

Thence  along  level  land, 

40  to  a post  and  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 
Timber  beech  and  maple. 

. . to  a run  running  southeasterly 

. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly,  and  to  the 
commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  3d  Quality, 

Thence  ascending 

. . to  a white  ash  post,  being  the  southwest  corner  of  said 
Township,  

Explored  the  28th  October  1798. 

( Surveyor 

JOSEPH  ELLICOTT  \ for 

( Holland  LdC°. 

[See  also  small  Field  Books  N°.  1 and  2.] 

Y. 

Surveyed 

TOWNSHIP  N°  1 in  the  2d  RANGE. 

[Genesee,  Allegany  Co.,  1 R.  S.  361  (6tk  ed.)J 
Beginning  at  a white  ash  post  standing  on  the  north  boundary 
line  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  being  the  southeast  corner  of  said 
Township,  and  the  southwest  corner  of  Township  N°  1 in  the  first 
Range,  from  which  post  two  hounded  trees  bear  a beech  north  thirty 
seven  degrees  east  twenty  three  links,  and  another  beech  north  eighty 
five  degrees  west  twenty  two  links  ; and  running  thence  from  the 
aforesaid  white  ash  post  West  bounding  south  on  the  north  boundary 
line  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  aforesaid. 

40  At  forty  chains  a beech  post  from  which  one  bounded  tree 
bears,  a sugar  maple  south  twenty  nine  degrees  east  twenty  two 
links. 

80  At  eighty  chains  a birch  sapling  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear,  a birch  sapling  south  sixty  four  decrees  west  thirteen 


^3 

o 

o 

L 


a 

O 

l 


20 


10, 

5 

24 


I 18, 

« * 

CM 


16 


[Sen.  Doc.  No.  -71.] 


* Horae  Run. 

41 


322  [Senate 

links,  and  another  birch  sapling  north  thirty  nine  degrees  west 
eighteen  links. 

120  At  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
two  bounded  trees  bear,  a pine  south  thirty  four  degrees  east 
twelve  links,  and  a white  oak  south  sixty  five  degrees  west  twenty 
seven  links. 

160  .At  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  forty  degrees  west  six- 
teen links,  and  another  beech  north  fifty  degrees  east,  twenty 
seven  links,  and  a maple  north  twenty  two  degrees  west  eighteen 
links. 

200  At  two  hundred  chains  a hemlock  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock  south  twenty  three  degrees  west 
twenty  six  links,  and  another  hemlock  north  fifty  eight  degrees 
west  thirty  links. 

240  At  two  hundred  and  forty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  five  degrees  east  twenty 
eight  links,  a!nd  another  beech  north  one  degree  west  twenty 
seven  links. 

280  At  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains  a white  pine  post*  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a maple  south  forty  three  de- 
grees east  thirteen  links,  and  a beech  north  forty  three  east  sev- 
enteen links. 

320  At  three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a beech  post  from 
which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  seventeen  degree  s 
west  nine  links,  another  beech  north  sixty  nine  degrees  west 
fifteen  links,  and  a white  pine  south  twenty  two  degrees  west 
eight  links. 

360  At  three  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
two  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  sixty  three  degrees  east 
twenty  links,  and  a white  ash  south  forty  four  degrees  east 
nineteen  links. 

400  At  four  hundred  chains  a black  ash  post  from  which  three 
bounded  trees  l>ear,  a black  ash  north  fifty  two  degrees  east  nine 
links,  another  black  ash  south  eighteen  degrees  east  thirty  four 
links,  and  another  black  ash  south  twenty  eight  degrees  west 
thirty  four  links. 

440  At  four  hundred  and  forty  chains  an  elm  sapling  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a white  ash  south  fifty  two  de- 
grees east  thirteen  finks,  and  an  elm  north  sixty  one  degrees 
east  twenty  one  links. 

480  Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  to  a hickory  tree  being 
the  southwest  corner  of  said  Township,  and  the  southeast  corner 
of  Township  N°  1 in  the  third  Range,  from  which  tree  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  an  elm  north  fifty  one  degrees  east  twenty 

* Error.  In  the  original  Notes  of  the  Surveyor  (Small  F.  B.  No.  2,  Aug.  Porter, 

Surveyor)  this  is  a White  Pine  tree  60  inches  diameter.  The  remains  of  this 

stump  were  there  in  1878. 


60  Chains  Dist.  of  Qualities. 


No.  71.] 


323 


one  links,  a hickory  north  twenty  nine  degrees,  west  thirty  six 
links,  and  a mapie  south  fifty  three  degrees  east  thirty  four 
links.  Thence  running  from  the  said  hickory  tree  North 


Range  2 

EEMAEKS  ox  TOWNSHIP  N°  1. 

Beginning  at  a white  ash  post  [etc.  as  above] 

and  commencing  with 

GQ 

G 

"3  ^ 

o 2 YJpland  of  the  3d  Quality, 

-Timber  beech,  maple  and  hemlock, 

10 . . . . Thence  ascending  a hill  facing  southeasterly  to  the  top 

of  said  hill,  and  to  the  descent  of  the  same  facing  north- 
westerly, 

13. . 70  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation  to  a 

run*  running  southeasterly,  and  to  the  ascent  of  an- 
other hill  facing  northeasterly,  Thence  ascending 

16..  30  to  a beech  post, 

10. . . . to  the  top  of  said  hill,  and  to  the  descent  of  the  same 

facing  southwesterly,  Thence  descending  said  hill  too 
steep  for  cultivation 

10. .  . . to  the  commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2d  Quality, 

Timber  black  ash,  birch  maple,  hemlock,  beech,  and 
white  pine,  Thence  descending 

20..  ..  to  a birch  sapling 

23 . . 50  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 

to  a run  running  southerly,  and  to  the  ascent  of  a ridge 
facing  easterly  ; Thence  ascending 

16. . 50  to  a beech  post, 

10. . . . to  the  top  of  said  hill,  and  to  the  descent  of  the  same 

facing  westerly,  Thence  descending 

30 . . . . to  a beech  post, 

12. . . . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 

to  a run  running  southwesterly,  and  to  the  ascent  of  a 
ridge  facing  southeasterly, 

18..  ..  to  the  top  of  said  ridge,  and  to  the  descent  of  the 

same  facing  northwesteilv,  Thence  descending 

10 . . . . to  a hemlock  post, 

15 . . . . to  the  bottom  of  said  ridge  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 

16. . . . to  a creekf  two  perches  wide  running  southwesterly, 

9 . .  . . to  a beech  post, 


* Coon  Brook. 


f Little  Genesee  Creek. 


324 


[Senate 


g 15. ...  to  the  148  mile  tree  in  the  Pennsylvania  line 
•5  24. . 90  to  a white  pine  tree;*  Land  level, 
g 20..  ..  to  a run  running  southwesterly  near  its  junction  with 
0 Oswaiye  Creek  one  chain  wide  running  north  westerly 

§5  and  southwesterly, 

20 . .  . . to  a beech  post, 


18. . 50  to  a run  running  southerly, 

21. . 50  to  a beech  post, 

40. . . . to  a black  ash  post,  Land  level 

40. . . . to  an  elm  sapling, 

. . 50  to  a run  running  southwesterly, 

6. .  . . to  the  same  run  running  northwesterly, 

6. .  50  to  Oswaiye  Creek  one  chain  wide  running  northwesterly 

27..  ..  to  a hickory  tree  being  the  southwest  corner  of  said 

Township 


Explored  the  23d  of  October,  1798. 

[See  also  small  Field  Book  No.  2.] 


VI. 

Surveyed 

TOWNSHIP  N°  1 in  the  3d  RANGE. 

[Portville,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  1 R.  S.  363,  365  (6th  ed.)j 

Beginning  at  a hickory  tree  standing  on  the  north  boundary  line 
of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  being  the  southeast  corner  of  said  Town- 
ship and  the  southwest  corner  of  Township  N°  1 in  the  second  range 
from  which  Tree  three  bounded  trees  bear,  an  elm  north  fifty  one 
degrees  east  twenty  one  links,  a hickoryf  north  twenty  nine  degrees 
west  thirty  six  links,  and  a maple  south  fifty  three  degrees  east  thirty 
four  links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  hickory  tree  West 
bounding  south  on  the  Pennsylvania  line  aforesaid. 

40  At  forty  chains,  a black  ash  tree,  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear,  an  elm  north  fifty  three  degrees  east  twenty  one 
links  and  a maple  north  twenty  eight  degrees  east  thirty  one  links. 
80  At  eighty  chains  a beech  post  from  which  three  bounded 
trees  bear,  a white  pine  north  three  degrees  west  nineteen  links, 
another  white  pine  east  thirteen  links,  and  a maple  south  forty 
two  degrees  east  twenty  links. 


*2H  Mile  tree,  see  note  page  322. 

f The  elm  was  standing  in  1884  quite  vigorous.  The  bark  was  smooth  and 
showed  no  signs  of  marks.  A block  cut  out  of  the  south  side  revealed  an  ellipti- 
cal mark  about  the  size  of  a man’s  hand  about  six  inches  under  the  wood.  From 
the  appearance  of  the  wood  over  the  mark  it  seemed  evident  that  the  mark  was 
made  by  cutting  away  and  peeling  the  bark  with  a knife.  No  axe  marks  were 
seen  and  the  shape  of  the  mark  was  quite  true.  In  1878  the  broken  stub  of  the 
hickory  witness  was  standing  with  the  marks  plainly  showing  in  the  bark. 


No.  71.] 


325 


120  At  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a maple  tree  from  which 
two  bounded  trees  bear,  a maple  south  thirty  five  degrees  east  nine 
links  and  a white  pine  south  fifty  two  degrees  west  twenty  links. 

160  At  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a beecli  tree  from  which 
two  bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock  north  eleven  degrees  east 
thirteen  links,  and  another  hemlock  east  six  links. 

200  At  two  hundred  chains  a beech  tree  from  which  one  bounded 
tree  bears,  a beech  south  twenty  degrees  w’est  seventeen  links. 

24:0  At  two  hundred  and  forty  chains  a hemlock  post  from  which 
three  bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock  south  fifty  five  degrees 
east  fifteen  links,  another  hemlock  north  thirty  two  degrees  east 
fourteen  links,  and  another  hemlock  south  thirty  six  degrees 
east  twenty  five  links. 

280  At  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains  a dogwood  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock  north  twenty  three 
degrees  east  twenty  three  links,  and  another  hemlock  north  six 
degrees  west  sixteen  links. 

320  Three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  to  a large  stone  being  the 
southwest  corner  of  said  Township,  and  the  southeast  corner  of 
Township  N°  1 in  the  fourth  range,  from  which  stone  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  eighty  five  degrees  west 
twenty  four  links,  and  another  beech  north  forty  degrees  east 
fourteen  links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  stone  North 


Range  3 


REMARKS  on  TOWNSHIP  N°.  1. 


Beginning  at  a hickory  tree  . 

...  [etc.,  as  above] 

and  commencing  with 


m 

rtf 

3 Upland  of  the  1st  Quality 

Timber  black  ash,  maple,  elm,  and  beech,  land  level. 

50  to  Oswaye  creek  two  perches  wide  running  south- 
westerly, 

50  to  the  same  creek  running  northwesterly, 

. . to  a black  ash  tree, 

. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly  northerly 
and  northwesterly  and  to  the  commencement  of 
Upland  of  the  3d  Quality 
Timber,  hemlock,  beech,  and  black  oak. 

Land,  Steep  and  stony. 

Thence  ascending 
50  to  a run  running  northeasterly 


■50Chs.  , — 50  Chains  35  Chians  25  Chains  99  Chains  50  Ls. 


326 


[Senate 


19  50  to  a beech  post, 

Thence  descending  said  hill  facing  northwesterly, 

30  . . too  steep  and  stony  for  cultivation, 

Thence  still  descending 
10  . . to  a maple  tree, 

31  . . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

and  to  a run  running  northwesterly, 

6 . . to  a beech  tree  and  to  the  commencement  of 


Bottom  land  of  the  1st  Quality 

Timber,  beech,  maple,  and  elm, 

11  50  to  the  Allegany  river  running  northwesterly 

13  50  to  the  commencement  of 

' «• 

Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber  beech  and  hemlock 
15  . . to  a beech  tree 

20  . . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  easterly  and  to  the  com- 

mencement of 


Upland  of  the  3d  Quality 

Timber  hemlock  and  beech 

20  . . to  a hemlock  post  on  the  top  of  said  hill  and  to  the  de- 

scent of  the  same  facing  westerly 
18  . . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation  and 

to  the  ascent  of  another  hill  facing  southeasterly 
12  . . to  the  top  of  said  hill  and  to  the  descent  of  the  same 

facing  northwesterly 
Thence  descending 
10  . . to  a dogwood  post 

20  . . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation 

50  to  a run  running  southwesterly  and  to  the  ascent  of  a 
hill  facing  southeasterly,  southerly  and  southwesterly. 
Thence  ascending  and  descending  said  hill 
15  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation,  to  a 

run*  running  southeasterly,  and  to  the  ascent  of  a hill 
facing  northeasterly. 

Thence  ascending 

4 50  to  a large  stonef  being  the  southwest  corner  of  said 

Township  . 

[etc. ; as  above] 

Explored  the  23d  day  of  October  1798. 

( Surveyor 

JOSEPH  ELLICOTT  \ for  the  Holland 
( Land  C° 

[See  also  small  Field  Books  N0  2 and  3.] 

Loup’s  Creek. 

t This  stone  is  described  in  the  original  Field  Book.  It  was  marked,  East  side* 
“ W.  & J.  Willink’s  S.  W.  Corner  West  side,  “ H.  L.  Co.  Beg.”  It  disappeared 
over  forty  years  ago. 


No.  71.] 


327 


VII. 

Surveyed. 

TOWNSHIP  N°  1 in  the  4th  RANGE. 

[Olean,  Cattaraugus  Co., — 1 R.  S.,363,  365  (6tli  ed.)] 

Beginning  at  a large  stone  standing  on  the  north  boundary  line 
of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  being  the  southeast  corner  of  said 
Township  and  the  southwest  corner  of  Township  N°  1 in  the  third 
range,  from  which  stone  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north 
eighty  live  degrees  west  twenty  four  links,  and  another  beech  north 
forty  degrees  east  fourteen  links.  Thence  running  from  tiie  afore- 
said stone  West  bounding  south  on  the  north  boundary  line  of 
Pennsylvania  aforesaid. 

40  At  forty  chains  a hemlock  post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear,  a hemlock  north  forty  degrees  west  forty  live  links, 
and  another  hemlock  north  seventy  one  degrees  east  thirty  three 
links. 

80  At  eighty  chains  a hemlock  post  from  which  three  bounded 
trees  bear,  a beech  south  eighteen  degrees  west  twenty  four 
links,  a hemlock  north  sixty  five  degrees  west  twenty  seven 
links,  and  a beech  north  seventeen  degrees  east  sixteen  links. 
120  At  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a sugar  maple  post,  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a sugar  maple  north  thirty  eight 
degrees  west  five  links,  and  an  ironwood  north  fifty  degrees 
east  twenty  five  links. 

160  At  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a hemlock  post  from 
which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  forty  five  degrees 
west  twenty  links,  another  beech  north  fifty  three  degrees  west 
forty  one  links,  and  a hemlock  north  fifteen  degrees  east  twenty 
eight  links.*’ 

200  At  two  hundred  chains  an  ironwood  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  nineteen  degrees  east  ten 
links,  and  a basswood  north  thirty  eight  degrees  west  twenty  four 
links. 

240  At  two  hundred  and  forty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  twenty  three 
degrees  west  four  links,  another  beech  north  thirty  one  degrees 
west  twenty  nine  links,  and  another  beech  north  forty  four 
degrees  east  nineteen  links. 

280  ' At  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains  a hemlock  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  twenty  two 
degrees  east  eleven  links,  a sugar  maple  north  eighty  six  degrees 
west  twenty  five  links. 

* All  of  these  witness  trees  were  still  vigorous  in  1878.  They  have  since  been 
cut. 


45  Chains  Dist-  of  Qualities 


328 


[Senate 


320  Three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  to  a sugar  maple  post 
being  the  southwest  corner  of  said  Township  and  the  southeast 
corner  of  Township  N°  1 in  the  fifth  range,  from  whicli  post 
three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  forty  five  degrees  east 
twenty  seven  links,  another  beech  north  fifty  five  degrees  west 
ten  links,  and  another  beech  nortii  thirty  three  degrees  east  twenty 
seven  links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  Sugar  Maple 
post,  North  


02 

a 

5 

u 


11 

7 

6 

7 

8 


18 

5 

12 

24 

5 

11 

10 

25 
5 
5 


Range  4 

REMARKS  on  TOWNSHIP  N°  1. 
Beginning  at  a large  stone  

[etc.,  as  above]  

and  commencing  with 


3 Upland  of  the  2d  Quality. 

Timber,  hemlock  beech,  birch,  sugar  maple,  black 
oak  chesnut  and  white  pine.  LStony  chocolate  colourd 
soil 

. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly,  Thence 
ascending 

13  *fit  for  cultivation 

87  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  but  too  stony  for 
cultivation. 

. . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly.  Thence 
descending 
. . to  a hemlock  post 

. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 
to  a run  running  southeasterly  and  .to  the  ascent  of  a 
hill  facing  northeasterly 

. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
. . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly.  Thence 
descending 
. . to  a hemlock  post 

. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultiva- 
tion chocolate  colourd  soil 
. . to  a runf  running  southeasterly 
. . to  a sugar  maple  post 
. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly 
. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
. . to  a hemlock  post 

. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly.  Thence 
ascending 


*Tliis  is  the  location  of  Milestone  155  according  to  the  Field  Book, 
f Meek’s  Creek. 


No.  71.] 


329 


O 

10 


12 

2 

5 

15 


20 

1 

7 

1 

12 

3 


18 

5 

2 

27 

3 

8 


30  *fit  for  cultivation 

70  to  tlie  top  of  said  liill  not  too  steep  but  too  stony  for 
cultivation 

. . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly 
. . to  an  ironwood  post  and  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill 
not  too  steep  for  cultivation  chocolate  colourd  soil 
. . to  a run  running  southeasterly  and  to  the  ascent  of  a 
hill  facing  southeasterly  easterly  and  northeasterly 
. . to  a point  of  said  hill  facing  southerly  not  too  steep 
for  cultivation  and  to  the  descent  of  the  same  hill 
facing  southwesterly 

to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
to  a run  running  southeasterly 
to  another  runf  running  southeasterly 
to  a sugar  maple  post 
to  a run  running  northeasterly 

to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly.  Thence 


50 


50 


82 


ascending 


Thence 


18 


Thence  still  descending! 


Jnot  too  steep  but  too  stony  for  cultivation, 
still  descending§ 
lit  for  cultivation, 
to  a hemlock  post 

to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation  and  to 
the  descent  of  the  same  facing  southwesterly 
to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultiva- 
tion 

to  a run  runing  southeasterly 

to  a sugar  maple  post  being  the  southwest  corner  of 

said  Township. ...  

Explored  the  18\h  day  of  October,  1798. 

[See  also  small  Field  Books  No.  11  & 43.] 


Till. 


Surveyed 

Township  N°  1 in  the  5th  Range 
[Allegany,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  — 1 R.  S.  362,  365,  (6tli  ed.)] 

Beginning  at  a sugar  maple  post  standing  on  the  north  boundary 
line  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  being  the  southeast  corner  of  said 
Township,  and  the  southwest  corner  of  Township  N°  1 in  the 
fourth  Range,  from  which  post  four  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north 
nine  degrees  west  thirty  links,  another  beech  north  thirty  four  east 
twenty  live  links,  another  beech  north  seventy  eight  degrees  west 
twenty  live  links,  and  another  beech  north  fifty  four  degrees  west  ten 
links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  sugar  maple  post  West 

* To  Milestone  157  (Field  Book  N°.  11.)  f North  Branch  of  Indian  Creek. 

X To  xMilestone  158  (F.  B.  N°.  11.)  § Sic.  Ascending. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71. J 


42 


330 


[Senate 


bounding  south  on  the  north  boundary  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania 

aforesaid. 

40  At  forty  chains  an  ironwood  post 
80  At  eighty  chains  a sugar  maple  post 

120  At  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a sugar  maple  post 

160  At  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a maple  post  from  which 

three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  twenty  seven  degrees 
west  thirty  four  links,  another  beech  north  forty  degrees  east 
sixty  seven  links,  and  another  beech  south  forty  degrees  west 
twenty  six  links. 

200  At  two  hundred  chains  a beech  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a chesnut  south  thirty  nine  degrees  east 
twenty  links  and  a beech  north  sixty  three  degrees  east  twenty 
seven  links 

240  At  two  hundred  and  forty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  sixty  one  west  twenty 
one  links,  another  beech  north  five  degrees  west  sixteen  links 
and  another  beech  north  thirty  nine  degrees  east  four  links. 

280  At  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
two  bounded  trees  bear,  a maple  south  seventy  four  degrees 
west  eight  links,  and  a beech  south  sixty  two  degrees  east  forty 
Jinks. 

320  At  three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a beech  post  from 
which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock  south  nineteen  de- 
grees west  eleven  links,  a white  pine  north  forty  nine  degrees 
west  thirty  live  and  a half  links,  and  a white  oak  north  fifty 
one  degrees  east  twenty  three  links. 

360  At  three  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  thirty  four  de- 
grees east  seventeen  links,  and  another  beech  north  eighty  nine 
degrees  west  thirty  one  links. 

400  At  four  hundred  chains  a beech  post  from  which  three 
bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock*  south  thirty  degrees  west  fifteen 
links,  another  hemlock  north  seventy  five  degrees  east  thirty 
links,  and  a beech  north  eighty  six  degrees  west  twenty  links. 

440  At  four  hundred  and  forty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
two  bounded  trees  bear  a hemlock  north  eleven  degrees  and 
thirty  minutes  west  eleven  links,  and  another  hemloekf  south 
thirty  eight  degrees  east  twenty  links. 

480  Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  to  a chesnut  post  being 
the  southwest  corner  of  said  Township  and  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  Township  N°  1 in  the  sixth  Kangefrom  which  post  four 
bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  smith  fifty  four  degrees  west  twenty 
links,  another  beech  south  forty  six  degrees  west  thirty  five 
links,  a birch  north  seventeen  degrees  east  eleven  links,  and 
another  birch  north  thirty  seven  degrees  thirty  minutes  west 
forty  eight  links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  chesnut 
post  North 


* Cut  in  vista,  1878. 


f Standing  in  1878. 


44  Ch.  , — 141  Ch.  72  Ls.  ,—55  Ch.  Dlst-  ofQualiU“ 


No.  71.] 


331 


Range  5 

Remarks  on  Township  N°  1. 

Beginning  at  a sugar  maple  post 

....  .[etc.,  as  above].  

and  commencing  with 
Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

- Timber,  sugar  maple,  beech,  oak  white  pine  and  under 

° brush  of  laurel. 

17. .  to  the  159th  mile  stone 

17. . 2 8 to  a run  running  southerly 

5 . . 50  to  an  ironwood  post 

14. . to  a creek*  one  perch  wide  running  southerly 

1 . . to  a bend  of  said  creek  running  northeasterly  and 
southeasterly 

15..  to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly 
Thence  ascending  along  the  side  of  said  hill 

10. . to  a sugar  maple  post  Thence  still  ascending 

16. . 8 to  the  160th  mile  stone 

13. . 92  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
10 . . to  a sugar  maple  post 

12. . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  westerly 

16. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

2. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly 
Thence  ascending  said  hill 

10 . . to  a maple  post 

3. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

5 . . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  northwesterly 

Thence  descending 

7. . 11  to  the  161st  mile  stone. 

3 . . 89  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

1. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly 

13. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

3 . . to  the  descent  of  the  same  hill  facing  southwesterly  and 

southerly,  and  to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  3d  Quality 

Timber,  a thick  growth  of  laurel 
Thence  descending  said  hill 

4. . to  a beech  post 

18. . 50  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  and  stony  for  culti- 

vation, to  a runf  running  southwesterly,  and  to  the 
ascent  of  a hill  facing  easterly 

11. . 50  to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation. 

7 . . to  the  descent  of  the  same  hill  facing  northwesterly 
Thence  descending  said  hill 

3 . . to  a beech  post  too  steep  for  cultivation  and  to  the  com- 
mencement  of 


* Indian  Creek. 


f Knapp’s  Creek 


•36Ch.50L\  / — 43  Cl).  50  Ls.  ,—30  Cb.  ,-50  Cli.  ,-80  Ch. 


332 


[Senate 


Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber,  chesnut,  beech,  maple,  white  pine,  ash,  oak,  and 
hemlock 

7. .  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 
to  a run*  running  southerly,  and  to  the  ascent  of  a hill 
facing  northeasterly  Thence  ascending  said  hill 

7. .  25  to  the  l()2d  mile  stone 

7. . 75  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation. 

18..  ..  to  a beech  post 

2. . . . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly  Thence  de- 

scending and  ascending  along  the  side  of  said  hill 

1 o o 

38 . . . . to  a beech  post 


10 . . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

4. .  34  to  the  103d  mile  stone 
25 . . 66  to  a beech  post 

10 . .  to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  westerly  southwesterly 

and  northwesterly  and  to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  3d  Quality 

Timber,  hemlock  and  beech 
Thence  descending  said  hill 
16.  . to  a spring  running  northwesterly 

10. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  and  stony  for  culti- 
vation, and  to  a run  running  northwesterly 

4. . to  a beech  post  and  to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber,  beech  hemlock,  oak  and  maple. 

2. . 50  to  a creekf  one  perch  wide  running  southwesterly 

9 . . to  a run  running  southwesterly 

2..  95  to  the  164th  mile  stone 

2..  55  to  a run  running  southwesterly 

3 . . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly  southerly 
and  southwesterly 

Thence  ascending  along  the  side  of  said  hill 

20 . . to  a beech  post 

3.  . 50  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 
to  a run  running  southwesterly  and  to  the  ascent  of  a 
hill  facing  easterly 

29. . 50  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

7. . to  a chesnut  post  being  the  southwest  corner  of  the  said 

Township 

L 

Explored  the  18th  October  1798 

[See  also  small  Field  Books  No.  17,  and  43.] 


* Pembroke  Run. 


f Harrisburg  Run. 


No.  71.] 


333 


IX. 


Surveyed 


Township  N°  1 in  the  6th  Kange. 

[Oarrolton,  Cattaraugus  Co., — 1 R.  S.  365  (6tli  ed.)] 

Beginning  at  a chesnut  post  standing  on  the  north  boundary 
line  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  being  the  southeast  corner  of  said 
Township  and  the  southwest  corner  of  Township  X°  1 in  the  fifth 
Bange  from  which  post  four  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  fifty 
four  degrees  west  twenty  links,  another  beech  south  forty  six  degrees 
west  thirty  five  links,  a birch*  north  seventeen  degrees  east  eleven 
links,  and  another  birch  north  thirty  seven  degrees  thirty  minutes 
west  forty  eight  links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  chesnut 
post  West  bounding  south  on  the  north  boundary  line  of  the  state 
of  Pennsylvania  aforesaid. 


40 

80 

120 

160 

200 

240 

280 

320 


At  forty  chains  a beech  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear,  a beech  north  sixteen  degrees  west  thirty  two  links,  & a 
hemlock  south  ten  degrees  west  nine  links. 

At  eighty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from  which  three 
bounded  trees  bear  a hemlock  south  fifty  three  degrees  west 
thirty  three  finks,  another  hemlock  south  twenty  six  degrees 
east  fifty  two  links,  and  another  hemlock  north  fifty  seven  de- 
grees east  fifty  eight  finks. 

At  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a hemlock  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a white  pine  north  forty  five 
degrees  east  twenty  two  links,  and  a hemlock  south  nineteen 
degrees  east  fifty  three  links. 

At-  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  forty  eight 
degrees  west  forty  links,  a maple  north  sixty  eight  degrees  east 
forty  five  links,  and  another  maple  south  twenty  seven  degrees 
west  forty  finks. 

At  two  hundred  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a white  pine  north  seventeen  degrees  west 
twenty  six  finks,  and  another  white  pine  south  forty  six  degrees 
west  twenty  two  links. 

At  two  hundred  and  forty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  three  bounded  trees  bear  a beech  north  twelve  degrees 
■west  thirty  eight  links,  a maple  north  forty  eight  degrees  east 
forty  nine  finks,  and  a birch  south  sixty  five  degrees  east  forty 
four  links. 

At  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a sugar  maple  soutli  sixteen 
degrees  west  thirty  six  links,  and  a beech  north  seventy  three 
degrees  west  forty  three  links. 

At  three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a birch  post  from  which 


Stump  and  fallen  trunk  identified  in  1878. 


334 


[Senate 


three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  fifty  nine  degrees  west 
seventeen  links,  another  beech  south  fifty  seven  degrees  east 
sixteen  links,  and  another  beech  north  twelve  degrees  west  nine- 
teen links. 

360  At  three  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a birch  north  thirty  degrees  east 
nine  links,  and  another  birch*  south  sixty  eight  degrees  east 
thirty  eight  links. 

400  At  four  hundred  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from  which  three 
bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  sixty  eight  degrees  east  seven- 
teen links,  a sugar  maple  south  twenty  two  degrees  east 
twenty  three  links,  and  a birch  north  forty  five  degrees  east 
seventeen  links. 

440  At  four  hundred  and  forty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  ten  degrees  east 
twenty  five  links,  and  another  beech  south  fourteen  degrees  east 
thirty  eight  links. 

480  Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  to  a monument  stone 
standing  in  the  western  Transit  Meridian  bearing  east  six  chains 
and  thirty  three  links  from  the  171st  mile  stone  in  said  line 
and  marked  on  the  east  side“  Holland  Land  C°  Southwest  Cor- 
ner Range  N°  6 ” on  the  west  side  “ W & J WILLINK’S  Rge. 
N°  7”  on  the  south  side  “ P”  on  the  north  side  u T N°  1 ” and 
on  the  top  “Tar  1 W.  July  1st  1799”  being  the  southwest 
corner  of  said  Township  and  the  southeast  corner  of  Township 
IS 0 1 in  the  seventh  Range,  also  the  southwest  corner  of  a tract 
of  Land  intended  to  contain  li0ocoe,sooo  granted  by  Robert 
Morris  and  Mary  his  wife  to  Herman  LeRoy  John  Linklaen 
and  Gerritt  Boone  by  deed  dated  the  27th  day  of  February  1793 
and  the  southeast  corner  of  a tract  of  land  containing  54,000 
acres  granted  by  Robert  Morris  and  Mary  his  wife  to  Herman 
Le  Roy  William  Bayard  and  Mathew  Clarkson  by  deed  dated 
the  20^  day  of  July  1793  from  which  stone  three  bounded  trees 
bear,  a beech  north  seventy  one  degrees  west  thirty  eight  links 
another  beech  north  sixty  degrees  east  twenty  nine  links,  and 
another  beech  south  fifty  four  degrees  east  thirty  four  links,  f 
Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  stone  North  along  the 
aforesaid  W estern  transit  Meridian 


* Standing  in  1884.  f All  these  witness  trees  were  standing  in  1884. 


36  Oh.  10  Oil.  r-15Ch.  ,—25  Ch.  r-80  Ch.  ,-40  Ch.  Dist.  of  Qualities 


No.  71.] 


335 


Range  6 

REMARKS  on  TOWNSHIP  N°  1. 
Beginning  at  a chesnut  post 

[etc.,  as  above] 

and  Commencing  with 


• Upland  of  the  2d  quality 

^ Timber,  beech  maple,  cherry  white  pine,  and  chesnut 
stonv. 

11  . . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  westerly 

14  . . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

1 . . to  a run  running  northwesterly 

14  . . to  a beech  post  and  to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing 

northerly 

Thence  descending  along  the  side  of  said  hill 

12  . . to  a run  running  northwesterly 

18  . . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation. 

10  . . to  a sugar  maple  post 

4 . . to  a run  running  northwesterly 

10. . 50  to  another  run  running  northwesterly 

5 50  to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northerly.  Thence  as- 

cending and  descending  along  the  side  of  said  hill 
20  . . to  a hemlock  post  and  to  the  Commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  3d  Quality 

Timber,  white  pine  hemlock  and  beech. 

20  . . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  fit  for  cultivation. 

5 . . to  the  Commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2d  quality 

Timber  white  pine  hemlock  and  beech. 

15  . . to  a sugar  maple  post  and  to  the  Commencement  of 


10 

3 

27 


Intervale  of  the  2d  quality 

Timber,  white  pine,  maple,  elm,  cucumber  and  beech, 
to  a run  running  southeasterly 

to  a creek*  five  perches  wide  running  northwesterly, 
to  a sugar  maple  post  and  to  a run  running  north- 
westerly 

to  the  Commencement  of 
Upland  of  the  2d  quality 

Timber,  white  pine,  beech,  birch  and  sugar  maple. 


* Tunaunguant  Creek. 


336 


[Senate 


8 

18 


2 

6 


id 

l 


o 

o 

CM 

l 


4 

1 

15 


14 
6 

15 


20 

5 

10 

23 


O 

o 


6 

4 

2 

15 

20 


§ 40 

T 


. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly  and  north- 
erly 

. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation  and 
to  the  descent  of  the  same  facing  northeasterly 
. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
. . to  a sugar  maple  post  and  to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing 
northeasterly 

. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  3d  quality 

Thence  descending  said  hill  facing  southwesterly 
. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  and  too  stony  for 
cultivation 

. . to  a sugar  maple  post  and  to  the  Commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber  beech  sugar  maple  and  basswood. 

. . to  a run  running  southeasterly 

. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  easterly  Thence  ascending 
. . not  too  steep  for  cultivation  to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  3d  quality 
. . to  the  Top  of  said  hill  not  fit  for  cultivation 
. . to  a birch  post  very  stony 

. . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly  southerly 
and  southwesterly  thence  descending  and  ascending 
along  the  side  of  said  hill 

. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  and  stony  for  cultiva- 
tion 

. . to  a sugar  maple  post 
. . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  westerly 
50  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation  to  a 
run  running  southwesterly 
50  to  a sugar  maple  post 
. . to  a run*  running  southeasterly 
. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  easterly 
. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  & stony  for  cultivation 
. . to  a sugar  maple  post  and  to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber,  Sugar  maple,  beech  birch  and  elm. 

. . to  a monument  stone  standing  in  the  western  Transit 
Meridian [etc-»  as  ab ove J 


Explored  the  9th  day  of  July  1799 

[See  also  small  Field  Books  N°  43,  46  & 63] 


* Bolivar  Brook. 


No.  71.] 


337 


X. 

[WILLINK  STRIP,  j 

Surveyed  That  part  of  Township  N°  1 in  the  Seventh  Range 
which  is  included  in  William  & Iohn  Willinks  54000  Acre  Tract. 

Beginning  at  a stone  marked  on  the  west  side  “ Holland  Land 
C°  ” on  the  east  side  UW&  I W ” and  on  the  south  side  “ P ” 
standing  in  the  north  boundary  line  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania 
being  the  southwest  corner  of  a Tract  of  Land  granted  by  Robert 
Morris  and  Mary  his  Wife  to  Herman  Le  Roy  William  Bayard  and 
Matthew  Clarkson  by  Deed  dated  the  Twentieth  day  of  luly  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety  three  containing  fifty  four  thou- 
sand acres,  also  the  southeast  corner  of  a Tract  of  Land  granted  by 
Robert  Morris  and  Mary  his  Wife  to  Herman  Le  Roy  and  Iohn 
Lincklaen  by  deed  dated  the  twenty  fourth  day  of  December  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety  two  containing  five  hundred 
thousand  acres  from  which  stone  three  bounded  trees  bear  a birch 
south  twenty  degrees  west  twenty  three  links,  a hemlock  north 
twenty  two  degrees  east  nine  links,  another  hemlock  north  forty 
three  degrees  west  fifty-four  links.  Thence  running  from  the  afore- 
said stone  East  bounding  south  on  the  north  boundary  line  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  aforesaid 

33.  68  At  thirty  three  chains  and  sixty  eight  links  a birch 
post  from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a birch  north  fif- 
teen degrees  east  thirty  two  links,  another  birch  north 
seventy  four  degrees  west  seventeen  links,  and  another 
birch  south  five  degrees  east  fourteen  links. 

73.  68  At  seventy  three  chains  and  sixty  eight  links  an  iron 
wood  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear:  a beech 
north  thirty-nine  degrees  west  thirteen  links,  and  a maple 
south  fifty-six  degrees  west  thirty-six  links 
113.  68  One  hundred  and  thirteen  chains  and  sixty  eight 
links  to  a monument  stone  marked  on  the  east  side  “ Hol- 
land Land  C°  southwest  corner  Range  N°  6”  on  the  west 
side  “ W.  and  I.  Willinks  Rge.  N°  7 ” on  the  south  side 
“P”  on  the  north  side  “ T N°  1”  and  on  the  top  “ Var 
1 W luly  1st.  1799”  standing  in  the  Western  Transit  Meri- 
dian Line  being  the  southeast  corner  of  the  aforesaid  fifty 
four  thousand  acre  Tract  also  the  southeast  corner  of  said 
Township  and  the  southwest  corner  of  Township  Np  1 in 
the  sixth  range  from  which  stone  three  bounded  trees  bear, 
a beech  north  seventy  one  degrees  west  thirty  eight  links 
; another  beecli  north  sixty  decrees'  east  twenty  nine  links 

and  another  beech  soutli  fifty  four  degrees  east  thirty  four 
links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  stone  North 
along  the  western  Transit  Meridian  line  aforesaid 

I certify  that  the  foregoing  is  an  accurate  description  of  that  part 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  43 


338 


[Senate 


of  Township  N°  1 in  the  seventh  Range  which  is  included  in  Wil- 
liam and  Iohn  Willinks  fifty  four  thousand  acre  tract  compared  with 
and  corrected  from  the  original  Field  Notes. 


JOSEPH  ELLICOTT  { HjS'CdV 


Range  7. 

Remarks  on  that  part  of  Township  N°  1 in  the  Seventh  Range 
which  is  included  in  William  & Iohn  Willinks  54000  acre  Tract. 

Beginning  at  a stone  [etc.] 


and  commencing  with 


GO 

ZD 

3 

CO 

CO 

l 


28 

4 

1 


68 


Intervale  of  the  2d  quality 

Timber  beech  birch  elm  and  hemlock 

to  a run*  running  southeasterly 

to  another  run  running  southeasterly 

to  a birch  post  and  to  the  Commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  3d  Quality 

Timber  hemlock  and  beech 

16  50  to  run  running  southerly  and  to  the  ascent  of  a hill 

^ facing  westerly 

^ 13  50  to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  and  rocky  for  cultiva- 

5 tion  and  to  the  Commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber  beech,  maple,  white  pine  black  oak  and  chesnut 
10  to  an  iron  wood  post 

40  to  a monument  stone  marked  on  the  east  side 


Explored  0 Iuly  1799. 

[See  also  small  Field  Books  N°.  43  & 68.J 

XI. 

Surveyed 

That  part  of 

Township  iV  1 in  the  7th  Range 
which  includes  only  Holland  Land  Company  Lands . 

[Red  House,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  — 1 R.  S.  363,  (6tli  ed.)] 

Beginning  at  a monument  Stonef  standing  in  the  north  boundary 

* Head  of  Bennett  Brook. 

f South-west  Corner  of  the  Willink  Strip.  Replaced  with  a new  monument  in 
1884. 


No.  71.] 


339 


line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  marked  on  the  west  side  “ Hol- 
land Land'  Co”  on  the  east  side  “ IF  cfc  J IF,’’  and  on  the  south 
side  “ P”  being  the  sontliwest  corner  of  a tract  of  Land  granted  by 
Itobert  Morris  and  Mary  his  Wife,  to  Herman  Le  Boy,  William 
Bayard,  and  Mathew  Clarkson,  by  Deed  dated  the  twentieth  day  of 
July  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety  three,  contain- 
ing fifty  four  thousand  acres,  from  which  Stone  three  bounded  trees 
bear,  a birch  south  twenty  degrees  west  twenty  three  links,  a hem- 
lock north  twenty  two  degrees  east  nine  links,  and  another  hemlock 
north  forty  three  degrees  west  fifty  four  links.  Thence  running 
from  the  aforesaid  Stone  West  bounding  south  on  the  north  bound- 
ary line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  aforesaid 

6. . 32  At  six  chains  and  thirty  two  links,  a hemlock  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock  north  twenty 
three  degrees  west  nineteen  links,  and  a beech  south  sixty 
four  degrees  west  thirteen  links. 

46..  32  At  forty  six  chains  and  thirty  two  links  a hemlock 

post  from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a Avliite  pine* 
south  forty  five  degrees  west  thirty  six  links,  a beech  north 
forty  four  degrees  west  twenty  seven  links,  and  a birch 
north  one  degree  east  thirty  three  links. 

86..  32  At  eighty  six  chains  and  thirty  two  links  a hemlock 

post  from  which,  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a chesnut  north 
thirty  two  degrees  west  eleven  links,  and  a beech  south 
thirty  eight  degrees  west  sixteen  links. 

126.  .32  At  one  hundred  and  twenty  six  chains  and  thirty  two 
links,  a sugar  maple  post  from  which  three  bounded  treesf 
bear,  a beech  south  fifty  three  degrees  west  forty  five  links, 
a birch  north  twenty  five  degrees  east  seven  links,  and  a 
hemlock  south  thirty  degrees  east  forty  five  links. 

166.  .32  At  one  hundred  and  sixty  six  chains  and  thirty  two 
links  a hemlock  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear, 
a beechf  south  nineteen  degrees  west  twenty  four  links, 
and  white  ash  north  seventeen  degrees  west  twenty  four 
links. 

206. . 32  At  two  hundred  and  six  chains  and  thirty  two  links  a 

hemlock  post  from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a hem- 
lock north  fifty  degrees  west  twenty  eight  links,  another 
hemlock  J south  twelve  degrees  east  twenty  three  links,  and 
another  hemlock  north  sixty  degrees  east  forty  five  links. 

246. . 32  At  two  hundred  and  forty  six  chains  and  thirty  two 

links,  a birch  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a 
beech  south  seventy  six  degrees  west  twenty  eight  links,  and 
a hemlock  north  forty  four  degrees  west  twenty  three  links. 

* Stump  identified  in  1879. 

f All  standing  and  vigorous  in  1879.  The  birch  was  cut  in  the  vista.  A monu- 
ment was  set  for  this  post  in  1884.  The  beech  and  hemlock  witnesses  were  still 
standing. 


340 


[Senate 

286. . 32  At  two  hundred  and  eighty  six  chains  and  thirty  two 

links  a white  pine  post  from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear, 
a pine* * * §  south  sixty  two  degrees  west  twenty  five  links 
another  pine  north  twenty  nine  degrees  west  twenty  six 
links,  and  a beechf  south  sixty  seven  degrees  east  twenty 
nine  links. 

-326..  32  At  three  hundred  and  twenty  six  chains  and  thirty 
two  links  a white  ash  post  from  which  two  bounded  treesf 
bear,  a hemlock  north  fifteen  degrees  west  eleven  links,  and 
a sugar  maple  south  two  degrees  west  ten  links. 

366. . 32  At  three  hundred  and  sixty  six  chains  and  tliirty  two 

links  a hemlock  post  from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear, 
a hemlock:);  south  thirty  six  degrees  west  eighteen  links, 
another  hemlock§  south  fifty  degrees,  east  eighteen  links, 
and  a birch  north  forty  degrees  west  thirteen  links. 

406 . . 32  At  four  hundred  and  six  chains  and  thirty  two  links  a 

sugar  maple  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a 
beech  north  sixteen  degrees  east  twenty  seven  links,  and 
another  beech  south  seventy  four  degrees  east  twenty  six 
links. 

422 . . 56  Four  hundred  and  twenty  two  chains  and  fifty  six 

links  to  a chesnut  post  being  the  southwest  corner  of  said 
Township  and  the  southeast  corner  of  Township  N°.  1 in 
the  eighth  Range  from  which  post  two  bounded  trees  bear, 
a sugar  maple]  north  thirty  two  degrees  thirty  minutes  east 
fifty  six  links,  and  a birch  north  sixty  one  degrees  west 
forty  links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  chesnut 
post  North 

* Standing  in  1879. 

f Standing  in  1879. 

JBotli  standing  in  1879,  with  remnants  of  original  post  among  the  roots. 
Both  trees  were  vigorous  in  1884. 

§ Two  witness  trees  standing  in  1879. 

j|  Standing  in  1884,  when  a monument  was  set  at  this  point.  Also  a beech  14"  d. 
77  links  N.  46  W.,  marked  by  the  surveyor  who  subdivided  the  Township  west 
of  it  into  sections. 


No.  71.] 


341 


Range  7 


Remarks  on  that  part  of  Township  N°  1 which  includes  only 
Holland  Land  Company  Lands. 

Beginning  at  a monument  Stone  

[etc.,  as  above]  

s and  commencing  with 


02 

CO  s 92 


03 

CO 


S Intervale  of  the  2d  Quality 

2 Timber  beech,  birch,  elm,  and  hemlock 

O 6 . . 32  to  a hemlock  post,  and  to  the  commencement  of 

CO  


co 


^ 40.. 


Intervale  of  the  3d  Quality 

Timber  beech,  birch,  hemlock  and  shin  wood 

Covered  with  moss 

to  a hemlock  post,  and  to  the  commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  3d  Quality 
Timber,  hemlock  and  beech 
Stony  and  Mossy. 

to  a hemlock  post,  and  to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  2d  Quality. 

Timber,  hemlock,  beech,  chesnnt  and  cucumber 
to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  north-westerly 
to  a sugar  maple  post  at  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too 
steep  for  cultivation,  and  to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  3d  Quality 

Timber,  beech,  hemlock  birch  and  chesnut 

Stony,  rocky,  and  mossy. 

to  a spring  running  northwesterly 

to  a run*  running  northwesterly 

to  another  run  running  northwesterly 

to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber,  hemlock,  maple,  beech,  chesnut,  and  white  pine 
to  a hemlock  post 

to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly 


* Branch  of  Quaker  Run. 


■50  Chains  ^80  Oh8  ^25  Ch8  ^-20  Ch8  ,—20  Ch1 


342 


[Senate 


Thence  descending  along  the  side  of  said  hill  not  too 
steep  for  cultivation. 

20. .  to  a hemlock  post  and  to  the  commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  3d  Quality 

Timber,  hemlock,  beech,  and  white  pine. 

Very  mossy 

20. .  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  but  too  stony 
for  cultivation,  and  to  the  commencement  of 


Intervale  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber,  beech,  sugar  maple,  and  hemlock. 

16. .  to  a run  running  northwesterly 

3. . to  another  run*  running  northwesterly 

1 . . to  a birch  post 

5 . . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly,  and  to  the 
commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber,  white  pine,  birch,  beech,  sugar  maple,  hemlock, 
and  black  oak 

10. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

25 . . to  a white  pine  post 

10. . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly 

30. . to  a white  ash  post  at  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too 
steep  for  cultivation 

5. .  to  the  commencement  of 


Intervale  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber  beech,  elm  sugar  maple  and  cucumber 

35 . .  . . to  a hemlock  post 

2 50  to  a creekf  one  perch  wide  running  northwesterly 

1 . . to  a run  running  northeasterly 
5 50  to  another  run  running  northeasterly 

6 . .  . . to  the  commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber,  beech,  sugar  maple,  and  hemlock 

8. .  50  to  a run  running  northeasterly 

50  to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  easterly 
13  . . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation,  and 

to  the  descent  of  the  same  facing  westerly. 

Thence  descending 
3 . . to  a sugar  maple  post 

16. .  24  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 
and  to  a chesnut  post  being  the  southwest  corner  of 

said  Township 

Explored  the  22d  day  of  June  1797 

[See  also  small  Field  Book  N°.  43.] 

* East  Branch  of  Quaker  Run.  f Quaker  Run  or  Tunessassa. 


No.  71.] 


343 


XII. 

Surveyed 

Township  N°  1 in  the  8th  Range. 

[East  Part  of  South  Valley.  Cattaraugus  Co.,  — 1 R.  S.  366  (6th  ed).] 

Beginning  at  a white  oak  post  standing  in  the  northern 
boundary  line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  being  the  southwest 
corner  of  said  Township  and  a corner  of  Allegany  Reservation* 
from  which  post  four  bounded  trees  bear,  a white  oak  north 
fifteen  degrees  west  seventeen  links,  another  white  oak  north 
seventy  nine  degrees  east  twenty  one  links,  a white  pine  south 
seventy  five  degrees  east  forty  five  links,  and  a hickory  south 
fifty  one  degrees  west  seventeen  links.  Thence  running  from 
the  aforesaid  white  oak  post  Westf  bounding  south  on  the 
north  boundary  line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  aforesaid. 

40  At  forty  chains  an  iron  wood  post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear,  a white  oak  south  eight  degrees  east  fifteen  links 
and  a beech  north  six  degrees  west  thirty  five  links, 

80  At  eighty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from  which  three 
bounded  trees  bear,  a sugar  maple  north  sixty  four  degrees  east 
eleven  links,  a white  oak  north  fifty  one  degrees  east  twenty 
three  links,  and  a maple  north  twelve  degrees  west  thirty  four 
links. 

120  At  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a black  oak  north  fifty  eight 
degrees  west  twenty  one  links,  and  a white  oak  north  sixty  eight 
degrees  east  thirty  four  links. 

160  At  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a black  oak  north  seventeen 
degrees  east  sixteen  links,  a chesnut  north  forty  five  degrees  east 
forty  six  links,  and  a sugar  maple  north  sixty  six  degrees  west 
thirty  links. 

200  At  two  hundred  chains  a white  pine  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a chesnut  north  forty  six  degrees  east  twenty 
one  links,  and  another  chesnut  north  ten  degrees  east  twenty 
seven  links. 

240  At  two  hundred  and  forty  chains  a white  pine  post  from 
which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a white  pine  north  fourteen 
degrees  west  thirty  five  links,  a chesnut  north  four  degrees  west 
thirty  seven  links,  and  a white  pine  north  seventy  one  degrees 
east  thirty  seven  links. 

280  At  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a white  oak  north  twenty  six 
degrees  east  forty  links,  and  a sugar  maple  south  eighty  eight 
degrees  east  seventeen  links. 

* An  Iron  Monument  was  set  in  1878  by  the  United  States  to  mars  this  corner. 

It  is  0.55  feet  too  far  south, 
f Error,  East. 


18  Chains  Diet.  of  Qualities. 


344 


[Senate 


320  At  three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a sugar  maple  post 
from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a sugar  maple  north  sixty 
degrees  west  thirty  six  links,  another  sugar  maple  south  sixty 
degrees  east  eleven  links,  and  another  sugar  maple  north  twenty 
five  degrees  east  forty  live  links. 

360  At  three  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
three  bounded  trees  bear,  a birch*  north  nine  degrees  west  thirty 
two  links,  and  a beech  south  sixty  seven  degrees  west  sixty  one 
links. 

400  At  four  hundred  chains  a beech  post  from  which  three 
bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock  north  fifty  nine  degrees  west 
thirty  links,  another  hemlock*  south  forty  degrees  west  six  links, 
and  another  hemlock  south  eighty  degrees  east  twentyseven  links. 

440  At  four  hundred  and  forty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  south  thirty  three  degrees 
west  thirty  seven  links,  and  a sugar  maple  south  five  degrees 
east  thirty  four  links. 

410  Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  to  a chesnut.  post  being 
the  southeast  corner  of  said  Township  and  the  southwest  corner 
of  Township  N°  1 in  the  seventh  Range  from  which  post  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a sugar  maple  north  thirty  two  degrees 
thirty  minutes  east  fifty  six  links,  and  a birch  north  sixty  one 
degrees  west  forty  links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid 
chesnut  post  North  

Range  8 

Remarks  on  Township  N°  1 in  the  8th  Range 

Beginning  at  a white  oak  post 

[etc  , as  above]  

and  Commencing  with 


Upland  of  the  2d  Quality 

Timber  black  and  white  oak  and  white  pine. 

Thence  ascending  a hill  facing  westerly 
to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
to  the  descent  of  said  hill  facing  easterly 
to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation 
to.  a run  running  northeasterly  and  to  the  Commence- 
ment of 

Upland  of  the  1 quality 

Timber  black  and  white  oak  cucumber  and  maple, 
to  a run  running  northeasterly f 


* Vigorous  in  1884. 
f Should  be  * south-easterly. 


60  Chains  ^-43  Cli.  50  Links.  ,—64  Chains  50  Links 


No.  71.] 
7 


345 


2 

3 

17 

8 

4 

8 

2 


21 


5 

10 

6 


1 

1 

9 

2 

3 

5 

11 

8 

7 


. . to  another  run  running  northwesterly*  and  to  the 
ascent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly,*  Thence  ascending 
. . to  an  iron  wood  post 
. . to  a spring  running  southeasterly 
Thence  still  gently  ascending 
. . to  the  Top  of  said  hill  and  to  the  descent  of  the  same 
facing  southeasterly  easterly  and  northeasterly 
. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
. . to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly 
Thence  descending 
. . to  a Sugar  maple  post 

50  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 
to  a run  running  northeasterly f to  the  ascent  of  a hill 
facing  northerly]-  & to  the  commencement  of 
Upland  of  the  2d  quality 

Timber  black  and  white  oak  chesnut,  white  pine,  &c. 

. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation  and  to 
the  descent  of  the  same  facing  easterly. 

Thence  descending 

75  to  the  182d  mile  Stone  Thence  still  descending 
75  to  a sugar  maple  post 

. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation,  to  a 
run  running  northeasterly^  and  to  the  ascent  of  a hill 
facing  southwesterly 

50  to  the  top  of  said  bill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation  and 
to  the  descent  of  the  same  facing  northeasterly J 
50  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
to  a run  running  north  westerly  § 

. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northwesterly  and  north- 
erly 

. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation 
. . to  the  descent  of  the  same  hill  facing  northeasterly 
. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation  & to 
a run  running  northerly! 

50  to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northwesterly 
50  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation  to  a 
sugar  maple  post  and  to  the  descent  of  said  hill  facing 
southeasterly  and  easterly 

50  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation  to  a 
run  running  northeasterly^  and  to  the  ascent  of  a hill 
facing  north-westerly 

50  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
. . to  the  descent  of  said  hill  facing  southeasterly  and 
southerly  thence  descending 


* Should  be  “ south  westerly,”  and  “ north-westerly.” 
t Should  be  “ south-easterly”  and  southerly.” 

i Should  be  “ south-easterly.”  § Should  be  “ south-westerly.” 

I Should  be  “ southerly.”  ^ Should  be  “south-westerly.” 

[Sen.  Doc.  No,  71.] 


44 


346 


[Senate 


6 


Cfi 

.£ 

*« 

6 


l 


7 

25 

15 

10 


03 

97 


r/5 


CM 


l 


12 


5 

m 25 


7Z 


c rj 

^ 12 


50 

50 


50 

50 


CO 

c 


rH 

L 


co 

•S 

6 

CO 

l 


1.. 

1.. 


50 


50 


4 


to  the  181st  mile  stone 

Thence  still  descending 

to  a white  pine  post  too  steep  for  cultivation 

to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

to  a white  pine  post 

to  the  Commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  1st  quality 

Timber,  oak  sugar  maple  andchesnut 

to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly  and  to  the 

commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2d  quality 

Timber  black  and  white  oak,  beech,  chesnut  white  pine 
hemlock  & birch 

to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
and  to  a run  running  northeasterly 
to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northeasterly*  thence  as- 
cending along  the  side  of  said  hill 
to  a sugar  maple  post 

to  the  top  of  said  hill  facing  westerly  too  steep  for  cul- 
tivation 

to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly 
Thence  descending 

to  a Sugar  maple  post  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation 
to  a run  running  northeasterly 
to  the  Commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  1st  quality 

Timber  sugar  maple  beech  & birch 

to  a run  running  northeasterly  and  to  the  ascent  of  a 

hill  facing  northwesterly  and  to  the  Commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  3d  quality 

to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation  and  to 
the  descent  of  the  same  facing  southeasterly 
to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation  and 
to  a runf  running  northwesterly  and  to  the  Commence- 
ment of 

Upland  of  the  2d  quality 

Timber  sugar  maple,  beech,  hemlock,  and  birch 
to  a run  running  northwesterly^; 


* Should  be  “ north-westerly. ” fWolf  Run. 

% Milestone  179  was  found  standing  a little  east  of  this  point. 


No.  71.] 


347 


m 2 

*c8  *> 

6 35 

CO 

ko  7 

3 

5 
7 

10 

6 


1 

10 

6 

23 


. . to  a beech  post 

. . to  the  same  run  running  southwesterly 
. . to  a beech  post  and  to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  west- 
erly and  southwesterly 

. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

. . to  the  descent  of  said  hill  facing  southeasterly  and 
easterly 

. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
. . to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  westerly  and  southwesterly 
. . to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
50  to  the  178th  Mile  Stone  and  to  the  descent  of  said  hill 
facing  easterly 
Thence  descending 
50  to  a sugar  maple  post 

. . to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 
50  to  a run*  running  northerly 

50  to  a chesnut  post  being  the  southeast  corner  of  said 
Township 


Explored  the  15th  day  of  October  1798 

[See  also  Small  Field  Book  N°.  22. J 

[Note. — The  topography  upon  the  first  three  miles  of  this  township  is  somewhat 
mixed  in  this  record.] 


XIII. 

Surveyed 

[T.  1,  R,  9.] 

[West  Part  of  South  Valley,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  — 1 R.  S.  366  (6th  ed.)] 
Beginning  at  a beech  post  standing  in  the  north  boundary  line  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  being  the  southwest  corner  of  said 
Township  and  the  southeast  corner  of  Township  N°  1 in  the  tenth 
Range  from  which  post  two  bounded  trees')*  bear,  a white  pine  north 
thirty  six  degrees  east  forty  five  links  and  a poplar  north  seventy 
nine  degrees  west  forty  nine  links.  Thence  running  from  the  afore- 
said beech  post  East  bounding  south  on  the  north  boundary  line  of 
the  state  of  Pennsylvania  aforesaid 

10  At  forty  chains  a beech  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear,  a sugar  maple  north  seventy  one  degrees  west  twenty 
seven  links,  and  a chesnut  north  thirty  five  degrees  east  twenty 
one  links. 

80  At  eighty  chains  a beech  post  from  which  three  bounded 

* South  Branch  of  Quaker  Run. 

f Witnesses  identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley.  (South-east  corner  of  Chautau- 
qua county.) 


348 


[Senate 


trees  bear,  a hemlock  north  seventy  nine  degrees  west  forty  five 
links,  another  hemlock  north  fifteen  degrees  west  twenty  two 
links,  and  a beech  north  nineteen  degrees  east  twenty  links. 

120  At  one  hundred  and  twenty  a birch  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  thirty  eight  degrees  west 
thirty  four  links,  and  a hemlock  north  thirty  seven  degrees  east 
twenty  three  links. 

160  At  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  eighty  degrees  west 
thirty  two  links,  another  beech  north  twelve  degrees  west  twenty 
five  links,  and  another  beech  north  forty  five  decrees  east  thirty 
three  links 

200  At  two  hundred  chains  a beech  post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear,  a white  pine  north  forty  one  degrees  west  forty  five 
links,  and  a hemlock  north  twenty  one  degrees  east  twenty  one 
links. 

240  At  two  hundred  and  forty  chains  a hemlock  post  from  which 
three  bounded  trees  bear,  a hemlock  north  forty  one  degrees 
west  thirty  two  links,  a white  pine  north  nine  degrees  west 
twenty  five  links,  and  a hemlock  north  seventy  eight  degrees 
east  twenty  six  links. 

280  At  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains  a beech  post  from  which 
two  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  twenty  nine  degrees  west 
twenty  eight  links,  and  another  beech  north  six  degrees  east 
twenty  three  links. 

320  At  three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a sugar  maple  tree 
from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a beech  north  fifty  one 
degrees  west  forty  six  links,  a sugar  maple  north  thirty  degrees 
east  forty  one  links,  and  a basswood  north  sixty  two  degrees  east 
twenty  five  links. 

343  Three  hundred  and  forty  three  chains  to  a beech  post  being 
a corner  of  said  Township  and  the  south-westernmost  corner  of 
Allegany  Reservation*  from  which  post  seven  bounded  trees 
bear,  a hemlock  north  five  degrees  east  twenty  links  another 
hemlock  north  twenty  degrees  east  fifteen  links,  another  hem- 
lock north  fifty  four  degrees  west  twenty  nine  links,  another 
hemlock  south  seventy  one  degrees  west  twenty  three  links,  a 
beech  south  twenty  nine  degrees  thirty  minutes  west  twenty 
eight  links,  another  beech  south  three  degrees  west  twenty  four 
links  & another  beech  south  sixty  eight  degrees  east  twenty 
seven  links.  Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  beech  post 
- North  six  degrees  East 

* Marked  in  1884  by  a Granite  Monument,  with  the  U.  S Iron  Monument 

North  of  it. 


201  Chains  ^69  Chains  Dist.  of  Qualities 


No.  71.] 


349 


Range  9 

Beginning  at  a beech  post 

[etc.,  as  above] 

and  Commencing  with 


5 

8 

7 

10 

10 

5 

24 


4 

4 

22 

23 

1 

2 

3 


4 

. . to 

7 

. . to 

5 

. . to 

10 

50  to 

to 

24 

50  to 

13 

50  to 

26 

50  to 

4 

...  to 

11 

. . to 

25 

. . to 

6 

. . to 

4 

. . to 

to 

62 

38 


-Upland  of  the  2d  quality 

Timber  black  oak  chesnut,  white  pine  and  sugar 
maple.  Land  stony. 

to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly 

to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly 

to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation 

to  a beech  post 

to  the  descent  of  a hill*  facing  southeasterly 
to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 
to  a runf  running  northeasterly  and  to  the  ascent  of 
a hill  facing  nortli westerly 


facing  westerly 

to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  cultivation 
to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly 
Thence  descending 
to  a hemlock  post 

to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation, 

and  to  a run  running  northeasterly 

to  the  186th  Mile  Stone 

to  a run|  running  northeasterly 

to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northwesterly 

Thence  ascending 


* Robbins  Hill. 

f State  Line  Run.  Milestone  188  is  a short  distance  east  of  the  second  inter- 
section. 

X State  Line  Run, 


350 


[Senate 


10  . . to  a beech  post 

11  50  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

5 50  to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  southeasterly. 

Thence  descending 
23  . . to  a sugar  maple  tree 

1 50  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  foo  steep  for  cultivation 

3 50  to  a run  running  northeasterly 

13  50  to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northwesterly 

2 50  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  cultivation 

2 . . to  a beech  post  being  a corner  of  said  Township  .... 


Explored  the  day  of 

JOSEPH  ELLICOTT  } itdC” 

[See  also  Small  Field  Book  N°.  23.] 

[The  Allegany  Indian  Reservation,  the  south  end  of  which  comprises  the  re- 
maining 137  chains  of  the  south  line  of  Township  1,  Range  9,  was  surveyed  in 
Sept.,  1798,  by  Richard  M.  Stoddard,  whose  notes  are  contained  in  small  Field  Book 
N°.  49.  The  South-west  corner  of  the  Reservation  is  446  chains  West  of  Mile- 
stone 185.] 


XIV. 

Surveyed 

Township  N°  1 in  the  10^  Range 
[Carroll  and  small  part  of  Kiantone,  Chautauqua  Co.  — 1 R.  S.  367  (6th  ed  ).] 

Beginning  at  an  Iron  wood  post  standing  in  the  North  boundary 
Line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  it  being  the  South  west  corner  of 
said  Township,  also  the  Southeast  corner  of  Township  N°  1 in  the 
eleventh  Range  from  which  post  four  hounded  trees  bear  ; an  Elm* 
north  fifty  seven  degrees  west  thirty  six  links  another  Elm*  south 
fifty  five  degrees  west  thirteen  links;  a Sugar  Maple  north  thirteen 
degrees  Cast  forty  seven  links;  and  an  Iron  wood  South  seventy 
four  degrees  east  twenty  five  links ; and  thence  running  East  bound- 
ing south  on  the  north  boundary  Line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania 
aforesaid  — [at  forty  chains,  a Maple  Post  from  which  two  bounded 
freest  bear;  a White  Oak  north  thirty  eight  degrees  west  twenty 
nine  links*;  and  a Hickory  north  thirty  five  degrees  east  forty  seven 
links;  at  eighty  chains  a Hickory  Post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear;  a Cucumber  wood  north  fifty  two  degrees  west  twenty 
eight  links  ; and  a White  Pine  north  one  degree  east  fifty  two  links ; 
at  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains,  a Birch  Post  from  which  two 
bounded  treesf  hear;  a Birch  north  forty  degrees  west  eleven  links; 
also  another  Birch  north  seventy  three  degrees  east  twenty  five 
links;  one  hundred  and  thirty  three  chains  to  west  bank  of  the 

*Elm  stumps  identified  in  1870  by  O.  D.  Hinckley.  Gone  in  1878. 
f Identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley, 


No.  71.] 


351 


Canawango  River,  at  one  hundred  and  thirty  five  chains  and  eighty 
one  links  across  to  the  east  side  of  the  aforesaid  river  at  one  hundred 
and  sixty  chains  a white  pine  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees* * * § 
bear,  an  Hemlock  north  twenty  degrees  east  nine  links ; also  another 
Hemlock  north  fifty  live  degrees  west  thirty  seven  links ; at  two 
hundred  chains  a white  Ash  Post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear,  a Sugar  Maple  north  fifty  two  degrees  east  twenty  two  links 
also  another  Sugar  Maple  north  forty  five  degrees  west  thirty  eight 
links;  at  two  hundred  and  forty  chains,  a White  Ash  Post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees]*  bear,  a White  Pine  north  thirty  degrees 
east  fifty  three  links ; also  another  White  Pine  north  three  degrees 
East  forty  six  links ; at  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains,  a Chesnut 
Post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear,  a ChesnutJ  north  forty 
five  degrees  west  thirty  two  links ; and  a White  Ash:):  north  sixty 
five  degrees  east  fourteen  links ; at  three  hundred  and  twenty 
chains,  a red  Oak  Post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear ; a 
White  Oak§  north  forty  two  degrees  west  seven  links;  and  a Ches- 
nut  north  sixty  six  degrees  east  eleven  links ; at  three  hundred 
and  sixty  chains,  a Maple  tree  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear ; 
a Maple  north  thirty  one  degrees  east  thirty  five  links  ; and  an  Hem- 
lock north  thirty  five  degrees  west  twenty  one  links;  at  four 
hundred  chains,  a Beech  Post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear ; 
an  Plemlock  north  two  degrees  west  nineteen  links;  also  another 
Hemlock  north  forty  seven  degrees  east  fifty  three  links;  at  four 
hundred  and  forty  chains,  a Beech  Post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees]  bear ; a Beech  north  seventy  one  degrees  east  twenty  two 
links ; also  another  Beech  north  seventy  three  degrees  west  eight 
links ; ] — four  hundred  and  eighty  chains,  to  a Beech  Post  being 
the  southeast  corner  of  said  Township  also  .the  southwest  corner  of 
Township  X?.  1 in  the  ninth  Range  from  which  Post  two  bounded 
trees  bear;  a White  Pine  north  thirty  six  degrees  east  forty  five 
links  and  a Poplar  north  seventy  nine  degrees  west  forty  nine  links; 
Thence  running  from  said  Post  North  

* Identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley. 

f Stumps  of  Witness  trees  identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley. 

% White  Ash  Witness  and  Chestnut  stump  identified  by  Mr.  Hinckley  in  1870. 

§ Down  in  1870,  identified  then  by  Mr.  Hinckley.  Mr.  H.’s  stake  was  replaced 
with  a granite  monument  in  1884. 

I Both  standing  in  1878. 


5 Chains  , — 7 Chains  , — 44  Chains  , — 36  Chains  , 50  Chains  Dist.  of  Quails. 


352 


[Senate 


Range  10th 

Remarks  on  Township  JV?.  1. 
Beginning  at  an  Iron  wood  Post 
[etc.,  as  above] 


Commencing  with  Upland  of  the  l?k.  quality 
timbered  with  Sugar  maple  Elm  Iron  wood  Cherry  and 
Cucumber  wood  Hickory  Pine  &c 

5. .  . . to  the  ascent  of  a side  hill  facing  northerly 

35 . . . . to  a Soft  Maple  Post  on  the  side  of  said  hill 

10 . . . . to  the  commencement  of 


— Up  Land  of  the  2?.d  quality 

timber  White  Oak  Red  Oak  White  Pine  & Hickory 

30 . . . . to  an  Hickory  Post  on  the  side  of  the  above  mentioned 

hill 

2..  . the  bottom  of  the  aforesaid  hill  fit  for  tillage 

4 . . . . to  the  commencement  of 

— - a Swamp*  Miry 

timber  Black  Ash 

34. . . . to  a Birch  Post  standing  in  said  swamp 

10 . . . . to  the  Commencement  of 


— Bottom  Land  of  the  2"d  quality 

timbered  with  BeechElm  Basswood  Birch  &c 

3 . . . . to  the  west  brink  of  the  Canawongo  River 

2 . . 81  across  to  the  east  bank  of  said  River  nine  Perches 

wide  running  southeasterly 

1 . . 19  to  the  commencement  of 


16.. 


Bottom  Land  of  the  ltf  quality 
timber  Basswood  Hickory  Beech  & Sugarmaple 
50  to  a small  run  Running  southwesterly 
50  to  the  commencement  of 

Bottom  Land  of  the  21d  quality 

timber  Beech  Hemlock  Elm  Basswood  Birch  and 

Black  Ash 

. . to  a White  Pine  Post 


*Conewango  Swamp. 


No.  71.] 


353 


03 

5.. 

.2 

8. . 

50 

c3 

2. . 

o 

CM 

6.. 

50 

l 

♦|  6..  50 

§ 9..  50 

tH 

i 


o 

CO 

CM 


26 


m 

3 9 

3 

o 

i 


o 


l 


l 

19 


a 1 

i—l 

CN 

L 


oq 

6 8 

oo 


to  a small  run  Running  southwesterly 
to  a small  run  Running  southerly 
to  another  small  run  Running  southerly 
to  a small  run  Running  southerly 
to  the  commencement  of 

Up  Land  of  the  1?*  quality 

timber  White  Pine  Sugarmaple  Beech  Elm  White  Ash 
and  Hemlock 

to  a small  run  Running  southwesterly  and  the  ascent 
of  a side  hill  facing  southerly 

to  a White  Ash  Post  on  the  side  of  said  hill  to  the 
Commencement  of 

Up  Land  of  the  2?.d  quality 

timber  White  Pine  soft  Maple  Beech  White  Oak  Red 
Oak  and  Hickory 

to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  tillage  and 
to  a small  run  Running  southwesterly  likewise  the 
ascent  of  a hill  facing  west 


ascending  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  till- 
age and  the  commencement  of 

O m 


Up  Land  of  the  1?*  quality 

timber  White  Oak  Chesnut  Red  Oak  Hickory  Maple 
to  a White  Ash  Post  and  the  commencement  of 


Up  Land  of  2?d  quality 

timber  Hickory  White  Oak  White  Ash  Beech  &c 
to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northwesterly 
ascending  said  hill  to  the  top  fit  for  tillage  thence  de- 
scending 

to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  facing  southeasterly  to  a 
small  run  Running  southwesterly  likewise  the  com- 
mencement of 

Up  Land  of  the  3Td  quality 

timber  a before  described  thence  ascending  a hill 
steep  and  stony  unfit  for  tillage 
to  the  commencement  of 


[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


45 


59  Chains  r—  44  Chains?  , — 10  Chains  , — 17  Chains  ^-11  Chains 


354 


[Senate 


— Up  Land  of  the  2"?  quality 

timber  as  last  above  described 

still  ascending  the  last  mentioned  hill  facing  west 
not  steep 

11..  ..  to  a Chesnut  Post  on  the  top  of  said  hill  and  the 
Commencement  of 


— Up  Land  of  the  1^  quality 

timber  Chesnut  Hickory  Beech  Cucumberwood  &c 

17. .  . . to  the  descent  of  a hill  and  the  commencement  of 


— Up  Land  of  the  3#  quality 

timber  the  same  as  before  described 
10  . . . to  the  bottom  of  the  aforesaid  hill  facing  northeasterly 
too  steep  for  tillage  to  a small  run  bearing  southeasterly 
likewise  the  commencement  of 


Up  Land  of  the  2n.?  quality 

timber  White  Oak  Chesnut  Red  Oak  Hickory  &c 

to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly 

to  a Red  Oak  Post  on  the  side  of  said  hill 

to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  facing  southeasterly  and  to 

a small  run  Running  southwesterly,  likewise  the 

ascent  of  a hill  facing  northwesterly 

to  the  top  of  said  hill  thence  descending  along  the  side 

of  a hill  facing  south 

to  the  commencement  of 


— Up  Land  of  the  31'?  quality  timber  as  above  described 

ascending  the  aforesaid  hill  too  steep  for  Cultivation 

7. . . . to  a small  run*  Running  south  and  to  the  ascent  of  a 

hill  facing  northwesterly 

2. . . . to  a soft  maple  tree  on  the  side  of  said  hill 

10. . . . to  the  top  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  tillage  thence  de- 

scending along  a side  hill  facing  southerly 

30 . . . . to  a Beech  Post  on  the  side  of  said  hill 

7. . , . to  the  bottom  of  the  aforesaid  hill  facing  southeasterly 

steep  and  stony  and  to  a small  run  Running  south- 
westerly likewise  to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing 
northerly 

3 . . - - ascending  said  hill  too  steep  for  tillage  to  the  commence 

ment  of 


*Storekouse  Brook. 


No.  71.] 


355 


CO 

e 


3 * 

O 7 
§ 18 


Up  Land  of  the  2“?  quality 
timber  Hemlock  Beech  Sugarmaple  Birch  &c 
to  a spring  run  .Running  south-easterly 
to  a spring  on  the  side  of  the  aforesaid  hill 
to  a Beech  Post  on  the  side  of  said  hill 
to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  tillage 


CO  11 


O 


to  the  summit  of  a hill  thence  descending 

to  a Beech  Post  being  the  southeast  corner  of  said 

Township 


t 


Explored  the  7th  day  of  August,  1798. 

[See  also  small  Field  Book  N°. 


XV. 

Surveyed 

Township  N°  1 in  the  lltt  Range. 

[Eastern  part  (4  lots)  of  Busti,  and  Western  part  (4  lots)  of  Kiantone,  Chautauqua 
Co.  — 1 R.  S.  366-7,  (6tn  ed.).J 

Beginning  at  a Sugar  Maple  post  standing  in  the  North  boundary 
Line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  it  being  the  Southwest  corner  of 
said  Township  and  the  Southeast  corner  of  Township  N°  1 in  the 
twelfth  Range  from  which  post  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Sugar 
Maple  North  twenty  five  degrees  West  seventy  seven  links  also  an- 
other Sugar  Maple  North  twenty  nine  degrees  East  ten  links.  And 
Thence  running  from  the  aforesaid  post  East  bounding  South  on  the 
North  boundary  line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  aforesaid — [At 
forty  chains  an  Iron  wood  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear 
a Beech  North  fifty  two  degrees  East  forty  five  links,  also  another 
Beech  North  fifty  three  degrees  West  twelve  links  : at  eighty 

chains  an  Iron  wood  post  from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear,  a 
Sugar  Maple  North  eighty  one  degrees  East  twenty  six  links,  an- 
other Sugar  Maple  North  ten  degrees  East  twenty  seven  links  also 
a Beech  North  thirty  six  degrees  East  twenty  four  links:  at  one 

hundred  and  twenty  chains,  an  Iron  wood  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  a Sugar  Maple  North  seventy  five  degrees  East 
forty  six  links,  also  a Beech  North  five  degrees  West  five  links : at 
one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a Beech  Post  from  which  three 
bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  North  fifty  nine  degrees  West  thirteen 
finks  another  Beech  North  twenty  degrees  East  twenty  links,  also 
another  Beech  North  twenty  eight  degrees  West  twenty  finks : at 

two  hundred  chains  a Beech  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear  a Beech  North  twenty  two  degrees  East  ten  finks,  also  another 
Beech*  North  fifty  eight  degrees  West  thirty  nine  finks  : at  two 

* Identified  in  1870,  by  Mr.' Hinckley  who  set  a stake  from  it.  Tree  down  in 
1884,  Stake  replaced  by  a granite  monument. 


356 


[Senate 


hundred  and  forty  chains  a Beech  post  from  which  three  bounded 
trees  bear,  a Sugar  Maple  North  fifty  nine  degrees  West  twenty 
links,  an  Elm*  North  fifteen  degrees  West  twenty  seven  links,  also  a 
Beech*  North  twenty  three  degrees  East  thirty  eight  links  : at  two 

hundred  and  eighty  chains,  an  Iron  wood  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  North  nineteen  degrees  West  thirty  six 
links  also  another  Beech  North  twenty  seven  degrees  East  thirty  five 
links : at  three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  an  Iron  wood  post 

from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  North  sixty  six  degrees 
East  fourteen  links,  an  Iron  wood  North  thirteen  degrees  East  thir- 
teen links,  also  a Sugar  Maple  North  six  degrees  West  twenty  three 
links : at  three  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a Sugar  Maple  post 

from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Sugar  Maple  North  twelve 
degrees  West  twenty  four  chains,  also  another  Sugar  Maple  North 
seven  degrees  East  forty  one  links:  at  four  hundred  chains  a 

Beech  post  from  which  three  bounded  trees  bear  an  Iron  wood  North 
fifty  eight  degrees  West  twenty  two  links,  a Beech  North  twenty 
four  degrees  East  six  links,  also  a Sugar  Maple  North  fifty  degrees 
East  thirty  seven  links  : at  four  hundred  and  forty  chains  a Beech 
post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Sugar  Maple  North  thirty 
four  degrees  West  fifty  links,  also  another  Sugar  Maple  North  six- 
teen degrees  East  twenty  three  links : ] — Four  hundred  and  eighty 
chains  to  an  Iron  wood  Post  being  the  Southeast  corner  of  said 
Township,  and  the  Southwest  corner  of  Township  N.°  1 in  the  tenth 
Range,  and  from  which  post  four  bounded  trees  bear,  an  Elm  North 
fifty  seven  degrees  West  thirty  six  links,  another  Elm  South  fifty 
five  degrees  West  thirteen  links,  an  Iron  wood  South  seventy  four 
degrees  East  twenty  five  links,  also  a Sugar  Maple  North  thirteen 
degrees  East  forty  seven  links  : and  running  Thence  from  the  afore- 
said post  North 


m 

CL> 


o 


co 

S 


Range  11th 

Remarks  on  Township  JV°  1 
Beginning  at  a sugar  maple  post 

[etc.,  as  above] 

m co 

a rid 

‘S  .2 

Commencing  with  Upland  of  the  quality 

timber  sugar  maple,  Beech,  Basswood,  Elm  and  Iron- 
wood, 

9. .  — to  a rivulet  bearing  Northeasterly, 

18. . 50  to  another  rivulet  bearing  Northwesterly, 

12. . 50  to  an  Ironwood  post, 

40  . . to  another  Ironwood  post,  1 Mile 

40  . . to  another  Ironwood  post, 


* Both  down  in  1870,  but  were  identified  by  Mr.  Hinckley. 


No.  71.] 


357 


4.. 

50 

32.. 

15 

3.. 

35 

40 

— 

40 

— 

8.. 

50 

31. . 

50 

13.. 

50 

2. . 

50 

24 

— 

40 

— 

21 



19 

— 

40 

— 

10 

— 

7.. 

50 

1 



21. . 

50 

to  a small  run  bearing  to  the  Northeast, 

to  a Beech  tree  marked  199  miles  of  the  Pennsylvania 

Line. 

to  a Beech  post,  2 Miles. 

to  a Beech  post,  Land  continues  level, 

to  a Beech  post,  3 Miles. 


the  same  running  southeasterly,  at 
recross  the  same  again  bearing  Northeaster] 
to  an  Ironwood  post,  4 Miles, 
to  a sugarmaple  post,  Land  continues  level. 

to  a small  run  bearing  southeasterly 


to  a creekf  1 perch  wide,  bearing  to  the  North 

to  another  creek;);  running  as  above. 

and  to  the  ascent  of  a very  steep  bank  facing  Westerly, 


said  township, 

Explored  the  19H1  day  of  Iuly  1798 

[See  also  small  Field  Book  X0.  30. . 


XYI. 

Surveyed 

Township  N?  1 in  the  12  Range. 

[Eastern  part  (2  lots)  of  Harmony,  and  western  part  (6  lots)  of  Busti,  Chautau- 
qua Co.  — 1 R.  S.  869,  368  (6th  ed.).] 

Beginning  at  a Beech  post  standing  in  the  north  boundary  line 
of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  it  being  the  south  west  corner  said 
Township  and  the  southeast  corner  of  Township  N?  1 in  the  thir- 
teenth Range  from  which  post  two  bounded  trees  bear ; a Beech 
. north  ten  degrees  east,  thirty  five  links,  and  a Cucumber  north  sixty 
eight  degrees  west  thirty  eight  links,  and  thence  running  East  from 
the  said  post  bounding  south  on  the  north  boundery  line  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  aforsaid — [At  forty  chains  a Sugar  maple 
post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear;  a Sugar  maple  north  fifty 
eight  degrees  east  ten  links,  also  another  Sugar  maple  north  forty 
five  degrees  west  fifty  three  links ; at  eighty  chains  a Sugar  maple 
post  from  which  two  bounded  treesg  bear  a Beech  north  twelve  de- 
grees west  thirty  two  links,  a Sugar  maple  north  forty  three  degrees 

* York  Run.  f Kiantone  Creek.  :}:  Spiritual  Spring. 

§ Stumps  identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley, 


358 


[Senate 


east  forty  seven  links ; at  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a Beech 
post  from  which  two*  bounded  trees  bear  a Bass  north  thirty  two 
degrees  east  thirty  eight  links  a Beech  north  Sixty  six  degrees  east 
twenty  seven  links ; at  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a Basswood 
post  from  which  two  bounded  treesf  bear  a Sugar  maple  post  north 
fifty  four  degrees  east  forty  nine  links  and  another  Sugar  maple 
north  forty  eight  degrees  west  fifty  seven  links;  at  two  hundred 
chains  a Bass  wood  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Sugar 
maple  north  fifty  four  degrees  east  twenty  eight  links  and  a Beech 
north  forty  degrees  west  thirty  one  links ; at  two  hundred  and 
forty  chains  a Sugar  maple  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear  a Beech  north  fifty  six  degrees  east  eighteen  links  and  a Bass 
north  fifty  two  degrees  west  thirty  six  links ; at  two  hundred  and 
eighty  chains  an  Iron  wood  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear,  a Beech  north  forty  degrees  west  thirty  eight  links  also  another 
Beech  north  forty  nine  degrees  east  fifty  one  links ; at  three  hundred 
and  twenty  chains  a Bass  wood  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear;  a Sugar  maple  north  sixty  eight  degrees  East  twenty  links  and 
a white  Ashf  north  eight  degrees  west  forty  links ; at  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  chains  a Beech  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear  a Sugar  maple  north  fifty  three  degrees  east  eleven  links,  also 
another  Sugar  maple  North  thirty  five  links ; at  four  hundred 
chains  a Sugar  maple  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a 
Beech  north  forty  four  degrees  east  twenty  one  links  and  a Sugar 
maple  north  two  degrees  east  fifty  five  links;  at  four  hundred  and 
forty  chains  an  Hemlock  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear ; 
a Beech  north  twenty  nine  degrees  west  twenty  one  links  and  an 
Hemlock  north  three  degrees  west  thirty  links]  — Four  hundred ' 
and  eighty  chains  to  a Sugar  maple  post  being  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  said  Township  and  the  south  west  corner  of  Township  N?  1 
in  the  eleventh  Bange  and  from  which  post  two  bounded  trees  bear; 
a Sugar  maple  north  twenty  five  degrees  west  seventy  seven  ,links 
also  another  sugar  maple  north  twenty  nine  degrees  east  ten  links 
and  thence  running  from  said  post  north 

* Bass,  and  Beech  stump,  identified  by  Mr.  Hinckley  in  1870. 

f Identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley. 


-SChaius  r— 125  Chains  / — 35  Chains  r—  5 Chains  r— 80  Chains  Distances 


N o.  71.] 


359 


Range  12tii 

REMARKS  on  TOWKSHIP  1. 

Beginning  at  the  South-west  Corner 

[etc.,  as  above,] 

in 

•3  JS  Commencing  with  Up  Land  of  the  1~  quality 
q 3 Timbered  with  Sugar  maple  Beech,  Bass,  Elm,  Cucum 
ber  and  Cherry. 

23. . to  a small  run  running  northerly. 

17. . to  a Beech  Post  standing  in  a small  run  running 
northerly. 

39.  . 50  to  a small  Run  running  northwesterly 
. . 50  to  a Sugar  maple  Post. 

Land  level,  and  to  the  Commencement  of 

— Bottom  Land  of  the  1st  quality. 

Timbered  as  before 

5 . .  to  the  Commencement  of 


— Up  Land  of  the  1~  quality. 

Timbered  with  Sugar  maple,  Bass,  Beech,  cherry,  Ash 
and  Cucumber. 

35 . .  to  a Beech  Post  Land  still  continues  level. 


7. . to  a small  Run  running  south  Easterly 

23  ' to  a small  Run  running  Southwesterly 

10..  to  a Bass  wood  Post.  Land  continues  level. 

Timber  Sugar  Bass  Cucumber,  Elm,  Cherry  and  Beech. 

40 . . to  a Bass  wood  Post. 

35 . . to  the  ascent  of  a Hill. 

4 . . descends  gradually  to  the  bottom  of  said  Hill,  facing 
Easterly. 

1 . . to  a Sugar  maple  Post. 

5 . . to  the  Commencement  of 

— Bottom  Land  of  the  2?  quality. 

Timber  as  before. 

5.  .*  • to  a small  run  running  southeasterly 

3. . to  the  ascent  of  a Hill,  and  the  commencement  of 


1 


360 


[Senate 


co Up  Land  of  the  2d  quality. 

c Timber  Beech,  Ash,  Iron  wood,  and  Bass  wood. 

3 7 . . to  the  top  of  said  Hill  facing  South  westerly,  not  too 

g Steep  for  Cultivation, 

co  16. . to  the  descent  of  a Hill  northeasterly 
| 1 . . 50  descends  gradually  to  a small  run  at  the  bottom  run- 

ning southeasterly,  and  the  Commencement  of 


3 


o 

lO 

03 


O 


2 


co 


l 


03 


o 

co 

iO 

l 


10.. 

37.. 

3.. 

3.. 


16.. 

11.. 


O'! 

L 


Up  Land  of  the  1#  quality. 

Timbered  with  Sugar  maple  Ash,  Bass,  Oak  & Beech. 
50  to  an  Iron  wood  Post, 
to  the  descent  of  a Gully. 

descending  gradually  to  a small  run  at  the  foot  of  the 
Hill  running  southwesterly, 

rising  gradually  from  the  run  to  the  top  of  the  oppo> 
site  side  of  said  Gully. 


to  a Bass  wood  Post. 

to  a small  run  running  Southeasterly 

to  a Beech  Post.  Land  level. 

to  a small  run  running  Southeasterly,  and  the  Com- 
mencement of 

Up  Land  of  the  2d  quality. 

Timbered  with  Poplar,  Oak,  Chesnut,  white  Pine, 
Bass,  and  Hemlock. 

— to  the  descent  of  a Hill. 

— to  a small  Spring  run  running  southeasterly  down  the 
side  of  said  Hill. 

— still  descending  said  Hill  to  a sugar  maple  Post. 
Continues  descending  to  the  bottom  of  the  Hill 
facing  Easterly,  not  too  steep  for  Tillage,  and  the 
Commencement  of 

Bottom  Land  of  the  2d  quality. 

Timber  Beech  Sugar  maple  white  Ash, white  Pine,  But- 
ternut, and  Hemlock. 

— to  a small  Creek*  two  Perches  wide  running  northerly 
75  Cross  the  said  Creek  running  Easterly. 

25  to  the  said  Creek  running  northerly 
to  an  Hemlock  Post, 
to  the  Commencement  of 

a miry  Swamp. 


* Stillwater  Creek. 


361 

Timbered  witli  black  Ash. 
to  the  Commencement  of 


Up  Land  of  the  25  quality. 

Timbered  with  Hemlock, Birch,  and  Beech, 
to  the  Commencement  of 


Up  Land  of  the  lfi  quality, 

Timbered  with  Sugar  maple  white  Ash,  Bass,  and 
Beech. 

To  a Sugar  maple  Post,  being  the  South  East  Corner 
of  said  Township  

Explored  the  4th  day  of  Iuly  1798 
[See  also  small  Field  Book  N°.34.J 

XVII. 

Surveyed 

Township  N°  1,  in  the  13th  Range. 

[Western  part  of  Harmony,  Chautauqua  Co. — 1 R.  S.  368  (6th  ed.).] 

Beginning  at  a Sugar  maple  tree  standing  in  the  north  boundary 
line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  it  being  the  southwest  corner  of 
said  Township  and  the  southeast  corner  of  Township  A7"  1 in ‘the 
fourteenth  Bange  from  which  sugar  maple  two  bounding  trees  bear 
as  follow,  a Beech  north  forty  nine  degrees  east  thirty  nine  links  and 
a white  pine*  north  eighty  three  degrees  west  forty  one  links  and 
thence  running  East  from  the  said  sugar  maple  bounding  south  on 
the  aforesaid  line 

[At  forty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear  as  follow  a sugar  maple  east  eight  links  also  another  sugar 
maple  north  seventy  three  degrees  west  twenty  two  links  ; at  eighty 
chains  a Beech  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow,  a 
Beech  north  twelve  degrees  east  thirty  links  also  another  Beech 
north  twenty  three  degrees  west  seventeen  links  ; at  one  hundred 
and  twenty  chains  a Beech  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear 
as  follow  a Beech  north  sixty  two  degrees  east  fifty  four  links  also 
another  Beech  north  forty  seven  degrees  east  thirty  two  links ; at 
one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a sugar  maple  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  as  follow  a Sugar  maple  north  thirty  five  degrees 
west  four  links  and  a cherry  north  fifty  eight  degrees  east  twenty- 


mo. 71.] 


.5 

5 

O 


12. 


CO 

.£ 

o 

o 


10 


15 . 


* Stump  identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinekley;  remains  of  it  to  be  kfound  in  1884. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  46 


362 


[Senate 


live  links;  at  two  hundred  chains  a Beech  post,  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  as  follow  a Sugar  maple  north  thirty  five  degrees 
east  sixty  one  links  also  another  sugar  maple  north  fifty  five  degrees 
west  twenty  six  links;  at  two  hundred  and  forty  chains  a Beech 
post  from  which  two  bounded  trees*  bear  as  follow  a Beech  north 
twenty  four  degrees  east  twenty  five  links  and  a Sugar  maple  north 
two  degrees  east  thirty  two  links ; at  two  hundred  and  eighty 
chains  a Beech  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow  a 
Sugar  maple  north  sixty  two  degrees  east  twenty  six  links  also 
another  sugar  maple  north  forty  nine  degrees  west  thirty  eight 
links;  at  three  hundred  and  twenty  chains  a Black  ash  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow  a Hemlock  north  twenty 
six  degrees  east  nineteen  links  and  a black  ash  north  eighty  degrees 
west  twenty  links ; at  three  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a hemlock 
post  from  which  two  bounded  trees*  bear  as  follow,  a Beech  north 
ten  degrees  east  twelve  links  and  a hemlock  north  twenty  one 
degrees  west  eighteen  links  ; at  four  hundred  chains  a Beech  post, 
from  which  two  bounded  treesf  bear  as  follow  a Beech  north  four- 
teen degrees  east  twenty  nine  links  also  another  Beech  north  nine- 
teen degrees  west  seven  links;  at  four  hundred  and  forty  chains  a 
Beech  post,  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow  a sugar 
maple  north  eighty  four  degrees  west  twelve  links  and  a Beech 
north  seventy  four  degrees  east  forty  six  links ; ] four  hundred 
and  eighty  chains  a Beech  post  being  the  South  east  corner  of  said 
Township  and  the  south  west  corner  of  Town  JV°  1 in  the  twelfth 
range  from  which  post  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow  a cucum- 
ber north  sixty  eight  degrees  west  thirty  eight  links  and  a Beech 
north  ten  degrees  east  thirty  five  links  and  thence  running  from  the 
said  post  North 

Range  13tli 

Beginning  at  the  southwest  corner 

[etc.,  as  above.]  


a 

Commenceing  with  Upland  of  the  22  Quality 

2 timbered  with  sugar  maple  Beech  Hemlock  and  Cu- 

cumber  — 

6 — 50  to  a small  run  running  south  Easterly 
0 13  50  to  the  commencement  of 

CM 

l 

Upland  of  the  1~  quality 

* Identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley,  both  down  and  decayed;  Mr.  H.’s  red 
beech  stake  was  standing  in  1884. 
f Identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley. 


14  Chains  r— 32  Chains  <--28  Chains  —38  Chains  , — 14  Chains  ,—30  Chains 


No.  71.] 


363 


timbered  with  sugar  maple  Beech  Cucumber  Asli  and 
Chesnut 

20 — to  a Sugar  maple  post 

2 — to  the  descent  of  a hill 

5 descending  said  hill  to  the  bottom  facing  easterly  not 

too  steep  for  Cultivation 

3 — to  the  commencement  of 


— Up  Land  of  the  22  quality 

timbered  with  Beech  Hemlock  and  Birch 
3 — 50  to  a run  one  perch  wide  running  South  Easterly 

10 —  50  to  the  ascent  of  a hill 


11 —  ascending  said  hill  to  the  top  facing  north  west  not 
too  steep  for  tillage 

2 — gradually  descending  said  hill  to  the  bottom  facing 
South  East 

3 — to  a Beech  post 

20 — to  the  Commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  Is.1.  quality 

timbered  with  sugar  maple  poplar  Beech  Cherry  and 
Black  Oak 

7 — to  a small  run  running  North  East 

13 — to  a Beech  post  the  Land  Continueing  level 

8 — to  the  commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  22  quality 

timbered  with  Hemlock  Beech  and  Sugar  Maple 
10 — to  the  descent  of  a Hill. 

4 —  descending  said  hill  to  a small  spring  run  running 
Northerly 

3 — descending  the  hill  from  said  run  to  the  bottom  facing 
Easterly  not  too  steep  for  tillage 
3 — crossing  said  spring  run  running  South  East 

12 — to  a Beech  Post  — and  to  the  Commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  32  quality 

timbered  with  Hemlock  and  Beech 
6 — to  the  descent  of  a gully 

2 — descending  the  said  gully  to  the  Bottom  facing  East- 
terly  too  steep  for  Cultivation  and  to  a small  run 
running  South 

— 50  to  the  ascent  of  a hill 

3 — 50  ascending  said  hill  the  top  facing  westerly  too  Steep 

for  tillage 

2 — descending  said  hill  to  the  bottom  facing  East  too 

steep  for  Cultivation  likewise  to  the  ascent  of  another 
hill 


-30  Chains  ,—11  Chains  , — 11  Chains  , — 4 Chains  ,—19  Chains  ,—25  Chains  ,—19  Chains  r—7  Chains 


364 


[Senate 


7 — ascending  said  hill  to  the  top  facing  N ortli  Westerly 

too  steep  for  tillage  and  to  the  commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  2?  quality 

timbered  with  Beech  Black  Oak  and  Pine 
19  to  a Beech  Post  and  to  the  Commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  i?*  quality 

timbered  with  sugar  maple  ash  Black  Oak  and  Chesnut 

10 — to  the  descent  of  a hill 

15 — descending  said  hill  to  the  bottom  facing  Easterly  not 
too  steep  for  Cultivation  and  to  the  Commencement  of 

— Bottom  Land  of  the  2?  quality 

timbered  with  Beech  sugar  maple  Birch  and  Hemlock 
4 — - to  a small  run  running  northerly 

11 — to  a Beech  post 

4 — - to  the  commencement  of 


— A swamp 

timbered  with  Black  Ash  not  miry 
4: — to  the  commencement  of 


— Bottom  land  of  the  2?  quality 

timbered  with  Beech  Sugar  maple  & Hemlock 
11 — to  the  ascent  of  a hill  and  to  the  commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  Equality 
timbered  with  Beech  and  Sngarmaple 

11 — ascending  the  said  hill  to  the  top  facing  Westerly  not 
too  steep  for  tillage  and  to  the  commencement  of 

— Upland  of  the  1??  quality 

timbered  with  ash  sugar  maple  Beech  Basswood  and 
poplar 

10 — to  a Beech  post 

10—  to  the  descent  of  a hill 
5 — descending  said  hill  to  the  bottom  facing  .North 

Easterly  not  too  steep  for  tillage 
5 — to  the  Commencement  of 


No.  71.] 


365 


m 


o 


5— 


L 


cc 

*«s 

6 

O 

tH 

i 


CO 


o 

iO 


5— 

10— 


rH 

L 


co 

l 


30— 

13— 


L 


1— 


2— 

17— 


3— 


Bottom  land  of  the  2?  quality 
timbered  with  Hemlock  and  Beech 
to  the  commencement  of 


Bottom  land  of  the  ltf  quality 

timbered  with  Basswood  Butternut  Elm  and  Hemlock 
to  a stream*  two  perches  wide  running  Southeasterly 
to  the  commencement  of 


Bottom  land  of  the  2d  quality 
timbered  with  Hemlock  Beech  Bass  & Sugar 
to  a Black  ash  post 
to  the  commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2^  quality 

timbered  with  Beech  Sugar  maple  Hemlock  and  Bass- 
wood 

to  an  Hemlock  post 

to  the  descent  of  a hill  and  to  the  commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  3?  quality  timbered  as  before 
descending  said  hill  to  the  bottom  facing  South  easterly 
too  steep  for  tillage 

to  a small  runf  running  South-westerly 


to  the  said  run  running  NorthWest 
to  said  run  bearing  SouthWest 

to  the  aforesaid  run  running  North  west  and  to  the 
commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2d.  quality 

timbered  with  Hemlock  Sugar  maple  and  Beech 

to  a Beech  post 

to  the  commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  1?^  quality 

timbered  with  Beech  Sugar  maple  poplar  and  Ash 
to  a small  run  running  North  Easterly 
to  a small  runf  running  Northerly 
to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  West 


* Little  Brokenstraw  Creek. 


f Deer  Lick. 


366  [Senate 

ascending  said  hill  to  the  top  not  too  steep  for  Culti- 
vation 

to  Beech  post  the  land  continues  level  and  timber  the 
same 

to  a Beech  post  being  the  south  East  Corner  of  said 
Township 

Explored  the  2d  day  of  Iuly  1798 

[See  also  small  Field  Book  N°.  35.] 

XVIII. 

Surveyed 

Township  N°  1 in  the  14th  Bange. 

[Clymer,  Chautauqua  Co. — 1 It.  S.  367,  369  (6th  ed.).] 

Beginning  at  a Beech  Post  at  the  Southwest  corner  of  the  afore- 
said Township  which  is  also  the  Southeast  corner  of  Township  N°  1. 
in  the  fifteenth  Bange,  from  which  post  four  bounded  trees  bear  as 
follow,  a Beech  North  thirty  five  degrees  east  eighteen  links  ; another 
Beech  North  twenty  four  degrees  west  forty  four  links ; another 
Beech  South  thirty  one  degrees  west  twenty  seven  links ; also  another 
Beech  South  thirty  three  degrees  east  thirty  four  links ; thence  run- 
ning East  bounding  south  on  the  North  boundary  line  of  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania*  (At  forty  chains,  a Beech  Post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  as  follow,  a Beech  North  fifty  degrees  east  forty 
three  links;  also  another  Beech  North  twenty  eight  degrees  west 
twenty  six  links ; at  eighty  chains,  a Beech  Post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  as  follow,  a Beech  North  forty  four  degrees  west 
thirty  seven  links ; and  a Sugar  Maple  North  forty  seven  degrees 
east  forty  eight  links  ; at  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains,  a Beech 
Post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow,  an  Hemlock 
North  forty  two  degrees  east  forty  one  links  ; also  another  Hemlock 
North  fifty  six  degrees  west  twenty  six  links;  at  one  hundred  and 
sixty  chains,  a Sugar  Maple  Post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear  as  follow,  a Sugar  Maple  North  thirty  four  degrees  east  seven 
links ; and  a Beech  North  fifty  seven  degrees  west  thirty  eight  links  ; 
at  two  hundred  chains,  a Sugar  Maple  Post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear  as  follow,  a Bass  wood  North  twenty  two  degrees  west 
twenty  nine  links ; and  a Beech  North  sixty  eight  degrees  east  thirty 
links;  at  two  hundred  and  forty  chains  a Cucumber  wood  Post 
from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow,  a White  Ash  North 
twenty  three  degrees  east  six  links;  and  a Sugar  Maple  North  forty 
two  degrees  east  fifteen  links ; at  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains 
a Beech  Post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow,  a Beech 
North  forty  five  degrees  west  twenty  seven  links  ; and  also  another 
Beech  North  fifty  six  degrees  east  thirty  five  links  ; at  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  chains,  a Sugar  Maple  Post  from  which  two 


No.  71.] 


367 


bounded  trees  bear  as  follow,  a Sugar  Maple.  North  nine  degrees 
east  thirty  seven  links  ; and  a White  Pine  North  seventeen  degrees 
west  fifty  five  links ; at  three  hundred  and  sixty  chains,  a Black 
Ash  Post  from  which  one  bounded  tree  bears  as  follows,  a Black 
Ash  North  ten  degrees  west  seventeen  links;  at  four  hundred  chains 
a Beech  Post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow ; a Sugar 
Maple  North  forty  three  degrees  east  thirty  seven  links ; also  an- 
other Sugar  Maple  North  thirty  degrees  west  fifty  five  links; 
at  four  hundred  and  forty  chains  a Beech  Post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  as  follow,  a Beech  North  twenty  eight  degrees 
west  twenty  three  links ; and  an  Hemlock  North  eighteen  degrees 
east  forty  three  links ; ) four  hundred  and  eighty  chains,  to  a 
Sugar  Maple  tree  being  the  southeast  corner  of  said  Town  and  the 
southwest  corner  of  Town  N°  1 in  the  13th  Bange  from  which  Sugar 
Majfie  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follow,  a White  Pine  North  eighty 
three  degrees  west  forty  one  links;  and  a Beech  North  forty  nine 
degrees  east  thirty  nine  links ; and  running  thence  from  the  afore- 
said Sugar  Maple  North  


Bange  lfth 

Beginning  at  a Beech  Post 

[etc. , as  above] 

xn  ie 

<v  a n 


C/1  'w' 

5 ■=— - — Commencing  with  Upland  of  the  quality 

timbered  with  Beech  Sugar  Maple  Hemlock  Cherry 
«,•  and  Cucumber 

^ 2 . . 50  to  the  descent  of  a gully  and  the  commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  3r.a  quality 

descending  said  gully  to  the  bottom  facing  north  east 
too  steep  for  tillage  likewise  to  a small  run  running 
North-west 

50  to  the  ascent  of  a gully  facing  south  west 

ascending  said  gully  to  the  top  too  steep  for  tillage 
and  to  the  Commencement  of 


■18  Chains  ,—13  Chs.  50  Lks.  r— 13  Chs.  50  Lks.  ^-22  Chs.  50  Lks.  , — lCh.  50  L.  , — 4 Chains  r— 51  Chains 


368 


[Senate 


— Upland  of  the  Vt\  quality 

timbered  with  Beech  Sugar  and  Cucumber  wood 
Maple  Cherry  Hemlock 

34.  . to  a Beech  Post  Land  Continues  level 

17.  . to  the  summit  of  a hill  and  the  Commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  3*2  quality 

4 descending  said  hill  to  the  bottom  facing  south  east  too 

steep  for  tillage  and  to  a small  run  Punning  North  east 


1..  50  ascending  a gaily  to  the  top  facing  North  west  too 
steep  for  tillage  and  to  the  Commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  1~  quality 

timber  Beech  Sugar  Maple  Cherry  Cucumber  &c. 
17.  . 50  to  a Beech  Post  Land  level 
5 . . — to  the  Commencement  of 


— Bottom  Land  of  the  21??  quality 

timbered  with  Hemlock  Beech  and  Birch 
7 . . 50  to  a large  Creek*  three  perches  wide  Canoeable  at 
some  seasons  of  the  year 
6 . . — to  the  Commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  2n.1  quality 

timbered  with  Hemlock  Beech  and  Sugar  Maple 

13 . .  50  to  the  Commencement  of 


— Bottom  Land  of  the  2n.<!  quality 

timbered  with  Hemlock  Beech  and  Birch 

8 . .  — to  a Beech  Post  Land  continues  level 

10 . .  — to  the  Commencement  of 


* Big  Broken  Straw  Creek. 


■37  Chains  r-4  Chains  ,—34  Chains  ,—8  Chains  r-9 5 Chains  ,—30  Chains 


No.  71.] 


369 


— Upland  of  the  2n.d  quality 

timber  Beech  Sugar  Maple  Hemlock  White  Pine  &c 

30 . .  — to  a Sugar  Maple  Post  & the  Commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  1?*  quality 

Timbered  with  Beech  Sugar  Maple  White  Ash  White 
Pine  Cucumber  and  soft  Maple 
17.  . 50  to  a small  run  Punning  South 

22. . 50  to  a Sugar  Maple  Post 

11. . 50  to  a small  run  Punning  South  Land  level 

28. . 50  to  a Cucumber  wood  Post  timber  continues  as  before 

mentioned 

15. . — to  the  descent  of  a hill  and  the  Commencement  of 

— Upland  of  the  3£  quality 

timber  Beech  Sugar  Maple  Hemlock  & Birch 

3 . .  50  descending  the  aforesaid  hill  to  the  botton  facing 
South  easterly  too  steep  for  tillage  likewise  to  a small 
run  running  Northeasterly 

4.  . 50  ascending  a hill  to  the  top  facing  Northwesterly  too 
steep  for  tillage  and  the  Commencement  of 

Upland  of  the  2?.d  quality 

Timbered  with  Beech  Sugar  Maple  Hemlock  &c 
to  the  summit  of  a hill  thence  descending 
to  a Beech  Post  standing  on  the  side  of  s?  hill 
to  a small  spring  run  Punning  North  east 
to  a small  spring  run  bearing  North  east 
to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  facing  east  not  too  steep  for 
Cultivation  to  a small  run  running  North  and  the  Com- 
mencement of 


— Bottom  Land  of  the  2"?  quality 

timbered  with  Sugar  Maple  Birch  & Hemlock 

4. .  — -to  the  Commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  2"?  quality 

Timber  Beech  Sugar  MapleWliite  Pine  &c 

19. . — to  a Sugar  Maple  Post.  Land  level, 

16. . — to  the  descent  of  a hill 

2 . — descending  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  facing  east  and 

to  the  Commencement  of 


[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


47 


370 


[Senate 


o 

lO 

3 

CO 

l 


d 

-C 

O 


12, 


GO 

fl 

1 13.. 

O 9.. 
§ 40.. 

^ AO 


an  Alder  swamp  not  very  miry 
50  to  a small  run  Running  North 
— to  a small  run*  running  North  westerly 
50  to  Sugar  Maple  Post 
50  to  the  commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2??  quality 
Timbered  with  Hemlock  Beech  and  Birch 
— to  the  commencement  of 


Bottom  Land  of  the  2n.d  quality 
Timbered  with  Birch  and  Beech 
— to  a small  run*  running  south 
50  to  the  commencement  of 


Upland  of  the  2?d  quality 

timber  Hemlock  Beech  Birch  White  Pine  and  Sugar 
maple 

— to  a small  run  running  south  westerly 

— to  a Beech  Post.  Land  continues  level 

— to  a Beech  Post  timber  as  before  described 

— to  a Sugar  Maple  tree  being  the  south  East  corner  of 

said  Township 


Explored  the  28th  day  of  Iune  1798 

[See  also  small  Field  Book  N°.  36J 


XIX. 

Surveyed. 

Township  N?  1,  in  the  IS1.11  Range 
[French  Creek,  Chautauqua  Co., — 1 R.  S.  369  (6th  ed.).] 

Beginning  in  the  Boundary  line  that  divides  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania from  the  State  of  New  York  at  a Sugar  Maple  post  in  a 
heap  of  stones,  being  the  Southeast  corner  of  a Triangular  piece  of 
Ground  sold  by  the  United  States  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania 
whose  Hypothenuse  is  in  and  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  which 
post  and  heap  of  stones  is  also  the  Southwest  corner  of  the  aforesaid 
Town,  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Beech 
North  ten  degrees  East  eighty  five  links,  also  another  Beech  North 


* South  Branch  of  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek. 


No.  71.] 


371 

fifty  degrees  East  sixty  four  links.  Thence  running  East  bounding 
South  on  the  North  boundary  line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  afore- 
said— (at  forty  chains  an  ash  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear  as  follows  a Beech  North  forty  nine  degrees  West  twenty 
links,  also  another  Beech  North  thirty  degrees  East  forty  one  links  : 
at  eighty  chains  a Beech  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear 
as  follows  a Beech  North  twelve  degrees  East  eight  links  also 
another  Beech  north  fifty  nine  degrees  east  forty  eight  links:  at  one 
hundred  and  twenty  chains  a Beech  post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear  as  follows  a Beech  North  twenty  nine  degrees  West 
eighteen  links,  also  another  Beech  North  forty  degrees  East  fifty 
eight  links : at  one  hundred  and  sixty  chains  a beech  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Beech  north  forty  eight 
degrees  West  twenty  six  links,  also  another  Beech  North  four 
degrees  West  eleven  links:  at  two  hundred  chains  a Beech  post 
from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Beech  North  thirty 
two  degrees  West  forty  two  links,  also  another  Beech  North  nine- 
teen degrees  East  forty  one  links : At  two  hundred  and  forty 
chains  a Beech  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows, 
a Sugar  Maple  North  sixty  six  degrees  West  twenty  three  links, 
also  another  Sugar  Maple  North  forty  one  degrees  East  fifty  three 
links:  at  two  hundred  and  eighty  chains  a Beech  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Beech  North  forty  eight 
degrees  West  twenty  links,  also  another  Beech  North  sixty  six 
degrees  east  fifty  five  links : At  three  hundred  and  twenty  chains 
a Beech  post  from  which  to  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Beecli 
North  eighteen  degrees  West  twenty  links,  also  another  Beech 
North  ten  degrees  East  eighteen  links:  At  three  hundred  and 
sixty  chains  an  Hemlock  post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear 
as  follows  a Black  Ash  North  fifty  one  degrees  West  thirty  six 
links,  also  an  Hemlock  North  fifteen  degrees  East  twenty  nine 
links : At  four  hundred  chains  an  Hemlock  post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Beech  North  twenty  degrees  West 
thirty  links,  also  another  Beech  North  fifty  five  East  thirty  seven 
links : at  four  hundred  and  forty  chains  an  Hemlock  post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Cherry*  North  forty 
one  degrees  West  eight  links,  also  a Beech  North  forty  five  degrees 
East  six  links)  Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  to  a Beech  post 
being  the  Southeast  corner  of  said  Town  and  the  South  west  corner 
of  Town  N°  1 in  the  14th  Range  from  which  post  two  bounded 
trees  bear  as  follows,  a Beech  North  thirty  five  degrees  East  Eigh- 
teen links,  also  another  Beech  North  twenty  four  degrees  West 
forty  four  links  ; and  running  Thence  from  the  aforesaid  post  North 
bounding  East  on  the  West  boundary  line  of  the  aforesaid  Town 
N?  1 in  the  14th  Range  ; — 


* The  stump  of  this  Cherry  was  fully  identified  by  Mr.  Hinckley  some  years 
before  his  reconnaissance  of  the  Boundary  in  1870.  It  was  standing  in  1884,  and 
was  used  in  the  adjustment  of  the  west  end  of  the  Parallel  Boundary.  (See  page 


372  [Senate 

Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  to  an  Iron  wood  post,  being 

tne  Northeast  corner  of  said  Town 

Thence  from  the  aforesaid  post  west  bounding  North  on  the  South 
boundary  of  Town  N?  2 in  the  fifteenth  Range 


Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  and  seventeen  links  to  a Beech 
post  standing  in  the  East  boundary  line  of  the  aforesaid  Triangular 
piece  of  Ground  being  the  Northwest  corner  of  said  Town,  and  the 
Southwest  corner  of  the  aforesaid  Town  N?  2 from  which  post  three 
bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Sugar  Maple  South  fifty  nine  de- 
grees East  twenty  nine  links,  another  sugar  maple  North  twenty 
degrees  East  twenty  seven  links,  also  a Beech  North  fifty  two  degrees 
East  sixteen  links. 

Thence  running  from  the  said  Post  South  bounding  West  on  the 
aforesaid  Triangular  piece  of  Ground  at  thirty  nine  chains  and 
seventy  five  links,  a post,  from  which  two  Bounded  trees  bear  as 
follows  a Cucumber  North  sixty  six  degrees  East  fifty  nine  links 
also  a beech  North  twenty  three  degrees  East  thirty  seven  links  at 
seventy  nine  chains  and  seventy  five  links  a post,  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Black  Ash  North  seventy  eight  de- 
grees East  forty  two  links  also  a Beech  South  thirty  degrees  East 
thirty  links : at  one  hundred  and  nineteen  chains  and  seventy 
five  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees*  bear  as  follows  an 
Hemlock  North  seventy  two  degrees  East  twenty  four  links,  also 
another  Hemlock  South  twenty  five  degrees  East  forty  five  links  : 
at  one  hundred  and  fifty  nine  chains  and  seventy  five  links  a post 
from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Beech  North  fifty 
eight  degrees  East  twenty  seven  links,  also  another  Beech  South 
seventy  eight  degrees  East  fifty  eight  links  : at  one  hundred  and 
ninety  nine  chains  and  seventy  five  links  a post  from  which  two 
bounded  freest  bear  as  follows  a Beech  North  thirty  eight  degrees 
East  thirty  links,  also  an  Hemlock  South  eighty  three  degrees  East 
thirty  nine  links : at  two  hundred  and  thirty  nine  chains  and 
seventy  five  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  fol- 
lows a Cucumber  North  seventy  two  degrees  East  twenty  seven  links, 
also  an  Hemlock;);  South  sixty  six  degrees  East  forty  three  links : at 
two  hundred  and  seventy  nine  chains  and  seventy  five  links  a post 
from  which  two  bounded  trees§  bear  as  follows  an  Hemlock  North 
seventy  degrees  East  thirty  four  links,  also  another  Hemlock  South 
seventy  one  degrees  East  thirty  three  links  : at  three  hundred  and 
nineteen  chains  & seventy  five  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees  bear  as  follows  a Black  Ash  North  sixty  one  degrees  East  thir- 
teen links  also  a Beech ||  South  thirty  five  degrees  East  fifty  six  links  : 

* Identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley. 

f Identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley.  Both  standing  in  1885. 

\ Identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley.  Down  in  1878,  but  stump  and  trunk  iden- 
tified. 

§Both  standing  in  1885,  one  was  cut  in  the  vista  of  that  year. 

| Standing  in  1879. 


No.  71.] 


373 


at  three  hundred  and  fifty  nine  chains  and  seventy  Aye  links  a 
post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Beech  North 
fifty  one  degrees  East  twenty  six  links,  also  an  Hemlock  South  forty 
one  degrees  East  thirty  eight  links : At  three  hundred  and  ninety 
nine  chains  seventy  five  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded 
trees*  bear  as  follows  an  Elm- South  eighty  degrees  East  fifty  links, 
also  a Beech  South  fifty  eight  degrees  East  forty  eight  links : at 
four  hundred  and  thirty  nine  chains  and  seventy  five  links  a post 
from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  as  follows  a Beech  North  sixty 
degrees  East  seventeen  links,  also  another  Beech  South  fifty  six  de- 
grees East  fifteen  links: ) Four  hundred  and  seventy  nine  chains 
and  seventy  five  links,  to  the  aforesaid  sugar  maple  post  in  a heap 
of  stones  at  the  place  of  Beginning,  Containing  twenty  three  thou- 
sand and  thirty  eight  Acres.  Surveyed  on  the  22*?  day  and  follow- 
ing days  to  the  30^  of  June  1798. 

I certify  that  the  foregoing  is  an  accurate  description  of  Township 
N?  1 in  the  fifteenth  Range  compared  with  and  corrected  from  the 
original  Field  Notes 

JOSEPH  ELLICOTT  { J C« 

[See  also  Small  Field  Book  N«.  37.] 


3 

a* 


ffl 

5 


CC 


t 


m 

6 

i 


Range  15th 

Remarks  on  T ownship  N°  1 
Beginning  in  the  boundary  line 

...  [etc.,  as  above] 

m on 

B M 

'3  .2 

6 ^ 

Commencing  with  Upland  of  the  T~  quality, 

Timber  Sugar  maple,  cucumber,  and 
1 — Basswood,  to  a small  brook  running  northwesterly, 

1 — to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly, 

11 — to  the  top  of  said  hill,  not  too  steep  for  cultivation  ; 

7 — to  the  summit  of  a hill,  thence  descending 

4 — to  the  bottom,  fit  for  tillage ; and  to  the  commence- 

— ment  of 

— Upland  of  the  2?d  quality, 

Timber  Beech,  Hemlock,  and  some  sugar  maple 
— . . 50  to  a small  run,  running  Northwesterly, 

8. . 50  to  another  small  run  running  Northwesterly, 

7 — to  an  ash  post,  land  level  and  good  for  cultivation, 

10  — to  the  commencement  of, 


Stumps  of  both  identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley. 


46  Chains  f — 12  Chains , — 128  Chains  r— 110  Chains 


374 


[Senate 


— Upland  of  the  1#  quality 

timber  Basswood,  sugar  maple,  Elm  cucumber,  Ash 
and  Beech,  Land  level, 

30 — to  a Beech  post. 

7 — to  a small  run  running  Northerly 

23 — to  the  vertex  of  a hill,  thence  descending 

10 — to  a Beech  post. 

5 — to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  fit  for  tillage. 

— . . 50  to  a small  brook  running  Northwesterly  and  to  the 
bottom  of  a hill, 

2. . 50  to  the  top  of  said  hill  not  too  steep  for  tillage 

3. . to  the  descent  of  a hill,  thence  descending  said  hill 

4 — to  the  bottom,  fit  for  cultivation, 

1 . . 50  to  a small  run  running  Northerly, 

17.  . 50  to  another  small  run*  running  North-westerly  land 
level  and  timber  as  above  described, 

6 — to  a Beech  post,  and  the  commencement  of 

— Upland  of  the  2™1  quality 

timber  Beech,  sugar  maple,  Hemlock,  cucumber  and 
Poplar, 

2 — to  a small  run  running  southwesterly, 

2. . 50  to  another  run  running  southwesterly, 

35. .  50  to  a Beech  post  land  level  and  timber  as  above, 

5 — to  the  bottom  of  a hill,  thence  ascending 

7 — to  the  summit  of  said  hill,  facing  southwesterly 

3 — to  the  top  of  another  hill  and  descending 

2 — to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  fit  for  cultivation 

1 — to  a small  brook  running  southeasterly, 

22 — to  a Beech  post,  land  level  and  timber  as  above 

34 — to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  Northeasterly,  thence 

descending  gradually, 

6 — to  a Beech  post. 

8 — to  the  bottom  of  said  hill,  and  to  a small  run  running 

— Northwesterly, 

3 — to  the  bottom  of  a hill  ascending  gradually  and  facing 
southwesterly, 

8 — to  the  summit  of  said  hill, 

1 — to  the  commencement  of, 


— Upland  of  the  1-  quality, 

timber  sugar  maple,  Beech  white  ash  and  Basswood, 

9 . . 25  to  the  221  mile  post  on  the  Pennsylvania  line. 

10. .  75  to  a Beech  post,  land  level, 

13 — to  the  summit  of  a hill,  thence  descending  gradually 
12 — to  the  bottom  facing  North-easterly, 

1 — the  commencement  of 


* Herrick  Run. 


No.  71.] 


375 


O 

CM 

CM 


11- 

3- 


8— 


iO 

l 


21 

5 


2— 

6 

CM 

T 

3— 

co 

§ 

Q 

•H 

CM 

21— 

L 

CO 

§ 

19— 

s 

30. . 

9. . 

stf 

3 

o* 


39.. 
24- 
ld— 
lb- 
14— 
10— 

27.. 

12.. 


. Bottom  Land  of  the  2"d  quality, 

timber  Hemlock,  Birch,  Black  ash,  Elm,  Butternut  &c.. 
a small  run*  running  to  the  South, 
to  an  Hemlock  post,  land  level, 
to  the  commencement  of, 

Upland  of  the  2"d  quality, 

timber  Beech,  Sugar  maple,  and  cucumber, 

90  to  the  220  mile  post  on  the  Pennsylvania  line, 

10  to  the  Bank  of  a gully,  thence  descending  the  same 
to  the  bottom,  also  to  a small  run  running  North- 
westerly, likewise  to  the  ascent  of  its  other  Bank, 
thence  ascending  at 

to  the  summit  of  the  Bank ; and  to  the  commence- 
ment of — [Hemlock  post] 

Upland  of  the  first  quality  — 

timber  Beech,  Hemlock,  cucumber,  white  ash,  Cherry, 
Sugar  maple,  &c. — 

to  a small  brook  running  Northwesterly,  and  to  the 
commencement  of 
Upland  of  the  2"d  quality 

timber,  Beech,  Birch,  cucumber  sugar  maple  &c 
to  an  Hemlock  post,'  land  level, 

34  to  the  219  mile  post  on  the  Pennsylvania  line 
66  to  a Beecli  post  being  the  south  East  corner  of  said 
township 


[West  Line  of  T.  1,  R.  15.] 


m 

a 

3 Commencing  with  Upland  of  the  1st  quality 

timber  Beech  sugar  maple,  Basswood  Cherry  and  Black 

Birch  ; herbage  nettles,  rich  weed  &c . . 

75  to  a post,  land  very  excellent 

to  a small  run  running  southeasterly, 
to  a post,  land  continues  fine  and  level, 
to  a brook  running  easterly, 
recross  the  same  running  Northwesterly 
to  a post,  land  and  timber  as  above 
50  to  a small  brook  running  Southeasterly 
50  to  a post, 


* Hare  Creek. 


376  [Senate 

JS  14. . 50  to  a creek  running  Southwesterly  and  to  the  ascent  of 
•S  a hill  facing  North-westerly, 

6. . 50  to  the  summit  of  said  hill  thence  descending  the  same 
c-  facing  southwesterly, 

§ 7 — to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  tillage  and  to 

’§  a run  running  Northwesterly 

3 12 — to  a post 

eg  34 — to  a small  running  Northwesterly 

c*  2 — to  another  post,  land  & timber  as  first  above 

40 — to  another  post  Land  continues  1 ~ Quality 

Timber  and  herbage  as  first  described 

3 . . 50,  to  a small  run  running  Southeasterly 

36  50  to  a post. 

16 — to  a small  brook  running  southeasterly 

24 — to  a post 

8.  to  a Creek*  3 perches  wide  running  southwesterly 
and  to  the  ascent  of  a hill  facing  northwesterly 
Thence  ascending  said  hill 

32.  to  its  Summit  not  too  steep  for  cultivation  and  to  a 
post 

14.  to  a small  run  running  northwesterly 

22.  to  another  run  running  northwesterly 

4.  to  a Beech  post.  Land  continues  fine 

24.  to  a Brook  running  northwesterly 

16.  to  the  first  mentioned  sugar  maple  post  at  the  place  of 

beginning 

Explored  the  30th  of  June  1798 

Surveyed 

Township  N°  2 in  the  1511?  Range 
[Mina,  Chautauqua  Co., — 1 R.  S.  368  (6th  ed.)] 

Beginning  at  a Beech  post  standing  in  the  East  boundary  line  of 
a Triangular  piece  of  Ground  sold  by  the  United  States  to  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania  whose  Hypothenuse  is  in  and  along  the  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  it  being  the  Southwest  corner  of  said  Township  and  the 
Northwest  corner  of  Town  NS  1.  from  which  post  two  bounded  trees 
bear  as  follows  a Beech  North  fifty  two  degrees  East  sixteen  links, 
also  a sugar  maple  North  twenty  degrees  East  twenty  seven  links 

from  Thence  running  East  Four  hundred 

and  eighty  chains  and  seventeen  links  to  an  Ironwood  post  being 

the  Southeast  corner  of  said  Township,  Thence 

from  the  aforesaid  post  North  bounding  East  on  the  West  boundary 

line  of  the  aforesaid  Town  N?.  2 in  the  fourteenth  range 

Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  to  a Beech  post  being  the  North 
east  corner  of  said  Town,  thence  from  the  aforesaid  post  West 


*East  Branch  French  Creek. 


No.  71.] 


377 


four  hundred  and  eighty  chains  and  thirty  nine  links  to  a Sugar 
maple  post,  standing  in  the  East  boundary  Line  of  the  aforesaid 
Triangular  piece  of  Ground  being  the  Northwest  corner  of  said  Town- 
ship, and  the  Southwest  corner  of  the  aforesaid  Township  N.°  3 from 
which  post  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  South  thirty  three  degrees 
East  thirty  seven  links,  also  another  Beech  North  twenty  nine  degrees 
East  forty  five  links : and  running  thence  from  the  aforesaid  post 
South  bounding  West  on  the  East  boundary  line  of  the  aforesaid 
Triangular  piece  of  Ground — [at  thirty  six  chains  and  eighty  nine 
links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Cucumber  North 
forty  degrees  East  thirty  two  links  also  a Beech  South  fifty  degrees 
East  twenty  seven  links ; at  seventy  six  chains  and  eighty  nine 
links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Birch  North  thirty 
six  degrees  East  twenty  four  links,  also  a White  Ash  South  thirty 
six  degrees  East  twenty  four  links;  at  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
chains  and  eighty  nine  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear  a Beech  North  thirty  one  degrees  East  six  links,  also  another 
Beech  South  twenty  nine  degrees  East  seventeen  links : at  one 

hundred  and  fifty  six  chains  and  eighty  nine  links  a post  from 
which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a White  Ash  North  sixty  degrees  East 
sixteen  links,  also  a Sugar  Maple  South  fifty  eight  degrees  East 
seventy  seven  links:  at  one  hundred  and  ninety  six  chains  and 

eighty  nine  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Sugar 
Maple  South  fifty  five  degrees  East  thirty  four  links  also  another 
Sugar  Maple  North  sixty  four  degrees  East  twenty  one  links  : at 

two  hundred  and  thirty  six  chains  and  eighty  nine  links  a post 
from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  North  eighty  one  degrees 
East  ten  links,  also  another  Beech  South  fifty  seven  degrees  East 
fifty  four  links:  at  two  hundred  and  seventy  six  chains  and 

eighty  nine  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Beech 
South  thirty  nine  degrees  East  twenty  two  links,  also  another  Beech 
North  seventy  three  degrees  East  sixteen  links  at  three  hundred 
and  sixteen  chains  and  eighty  nine  links  to  a post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  North  fifty  five  degrees  East  fourteen 
links,  also  another  Beech  South  forty  five  degrees  East  thirty  one 
links : at  three  hundred  and  fifty  six  chains  and  eighty  nine 

links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Sugar  Maple 
North  sixty  two  degrees  East  twenty  seven  links,  also  another  Sugar 
Maple  South  seventy  seven  degrees  East  forty  three  links : at 

three  hundred  and  ninety  six  chains  and  eighty  nine  links  a post 
from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Sugar  maple  South  nineteen 
degrees  East  sixty  five  links,  also  a Black  Birch*  North  fifty  two 
degrees  East  eighty  links  : at  four  hundred  and  thirty  six  chains 

and  eighty  nine  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a 
Soft  Maple  North  fifty  five  degrees  East  fifty  six  links,  also  a Beech 
South  forty  degrees  East  twenty  nine  links:] — Four  hundred 
and  seventy  six  chains  and  eighty  nine  links  to  the  first  mentioned 


*Dead  stub  identified  in  1870  by  Mr.  Hinckley. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71. J 48 


145  Chains  ^ — 116  Chains  89  Links  l>«t.  of  qualef 


378 


[Senate 


Beech  post  at  the  place  of  Beginning  — Containing  twenty  two 
thousand,  nine  hundred  and  seventy  nine  Acres,  Surveyed  on  the 
2 6 9}  of  June,  and  following  days  to  the  49>  of  J uly,  1798. — 

I certify  that  the  foregoingis  an  accurate  description  of  Township 
N?  2 in  the  fifteenth  Range  compared  with  and  corrected  from  the 
original  field  notes. 

JOSEPH  ELLICOTT, 

Surveyor  for  the 
Holland  Land  Co. 


Range  15 

Remarks  on  Township  A0  2 
[West  line  of  T.  2,  R.  15.] 

Whence  running  from  the  aforesaid  South  bounding  West  on 
the  East  boundary  Line  of  the  aforesaid  triangular  piece  of  ground 

oi 

C3  02 

•5  •“ 

A £ 

O i-3 

Commencement  with  Upland  of  the  l?i  quality  timber 

Beech  sugar  maple,  Black  Birch,  cherry  cucumber,  and 
Hemlock 

6.  89  to  the  summit  of  a hill  facing  South-westerly 

1. .  50  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill,  too  steep  for  tillage  also  to  a 
small  brook  bearing  northwesterly 

28 . . 50  to  a post  Land  Level,  timber  and  soil  as  above 

30 . . 25  to  a post  Land  continues  level, 

22..  — to  a rivulet  running  southeasterly 
18 . . — to  a post, 


40 . . — to  a post  Land  level  & of  the  first  mentioned  quality, 

30 . . 50  to  a creek*  bearing  southeasterly, 

9 . . 50  to  a post, 

17  to  the  descent  of  a hill  facing  south-westerly  too  steep 

for  cultivation, 

9 — to  the  bottom  of  said  hill,  and  to  a creekf  2 perches 
wide  bearing  Northwesterly, 

14  to  a post 

4 to  a small  run  running  Northwesterly 

21  to  the  summit  of  a very  steep  hill  facing  S. westerly 

and  to  the  commencement  of 


* Black  Brook,  near  Milestone  1). 


f North  branch  of  French  Creek. 


■T6  Chains  ,—14  Chains  ,—15  Chains  ,—15  Chains  50  Links  ,—73  Chains  75  Links  ,—  56  Chains  15  Links 


No.  71.] 


379 


— Upland  of  the  3rd  quality, 

timber  Leech,  sugar  maple  Basswood  &c 

5. .  75  to  bottom  of  the  last  mentioned  hill  too  steep  for  til- 
lage, and  to  a brook  running  Northwesterly,  also,  to 
the  commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  1st  quality, 

timber  Beech,  sugarmaple  Basswood  & cherry 
9 . . 25  to  a post, 

40  — to  another  post,  Land  level  and  tine, 

24  — to  a small  run  bearing  Westerly, 

— . . 50  to  another  run  bearing  as  above,  and  to  the  commence- 
ment of 


— Upland  of  the  2?.d  quality, 

timbered  principally  with  Hemlock 
15  50  to  a post,  and  to  the  commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  1#  quality 

timber  Beech,  sugarmaple,  Basswood 
15  . . to  the  commencement  of 


Bottom  Land  of  the  2"d  quality,  timber  Beech,  sugar- 

maple,  Basswood  and  Cherry 
10  . . to  a post  Land  level, 

— . . 25  to  a small  run  bearing  Westerly, 

3 . .  75  to  a Black  ash  swamp  not  miry,  and  to  the  com- 

mencement  of 

Upland  of  the  Ut  quality 

timber  sugar  maple,  Beech,  Cherry  &c 
4 — to  the  south  side  of  the  above  swamp, 

32 — to  a Beech  post  Land  level  and  fine, 

30. .  25  to  a Brook  bearing  Easterly 
9.  . 75  to  a Beech  post  at  the  place  of  Beginning 

Explored  the  4th  day  of  July  1798 

JOSEPH  ELLICOTT 

Surveyor  for  the 
Holland  Land  C? 


[See  also  small  Field  Book  N?  37-1 


['Senate 


380 


Surveyed 

Township  N°  3 in  the  15th  Range. 

[Ripley,  Chautauqua  Co., — 1 R.  S.  358  (Otli  ed.).] 

Beginning  at  a Sugar  Maple  post  standing  in  the  East  boundary 
Line  of  a Triangular  piece  of  Ground  sold  by  the  United  States  to 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  whose  Hypothenuse  is  in  and  along  the 
Shore  of  Lake  Erie  it  being  the  Southwest  corner  of  said  Township 
and  the  Northwest  Corner  of  Township  N°  2 from  which  post  two 
bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  South  thirty  three  degrees  East  thirty 
seven  links,  also  another  Beech  North  twenty  nine  Deg3  East 

forty  five  links Four  hundred  and  eighty  chains 

and  thirty  nine  links  to  a Beech  post  being  the  South  East  corner 

of  said  Township 

Thence  from  the  aforesaid  post  North 


seven  hundred  and  eighty  chains  and  seventeen 

links  to  an  Iron  wood  post  <^n  the  Bank  of  Lake  Erie  it  being  the 

Northeast  corner  of  said  Township ... 

thence  traversing  from  the  aforesaid  Iron  woods  post 

bounding  Northwestwardly  by  the  Southeast  shore  of  said  Lake, 


to  a post  [standing  on  the  Shore  of  said  Lake]  being  the  Northwest 
corner  of  said  Township,  and  also  the  North-east  corner  of  the  afore- 
said Triangular  piece  of  ground  sold  by  the  United  States  to  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Thence  from  the  aforesaid  post  South  bound- 
ing West  on  the  East  boundary  line  of  the  aforesaid  Triangular  piece 
of  ground]  — At  thirty  nine  links  a Monument  Stone*  in  the 
aforesaid  boundary  line : At  fourteen  chains  and  twenty  seven 
links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  North  sixty 
seven  degrees  and  thirty  minutes  East  forty  links,  another  Beech 
South  thirty  nine  degrees  East  forty  two  links : at  fifty  four  chains 
and  twenty  seven  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear 
a Chesnut  North  fifty  degrees  East  fifty  four  links,  also  an  Hemlock 
South  fifty  eight  degrees  East  eighty  four  links:  at  ninety  four 
chains  and  twenty  seven  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear  a White  ash  North  eighty  degrees  East  sixteen  links,  also  a Beech 
North  fourteen  degrees  East  forty  three  links,  at  one  hundred  and 
thirty  four  chains  and  twenty  seven  links,  a post  from  which  two 
bounded  trees  bear  a Black  ash  South  sixty  eight  degrees  East  fifty 
nine  links,  also  an  Ilicory  North  forty  four  degrees  East  thirty  five 
links  : at  one  hundred  and  seventy  four  chains  and  twenty  seven 
links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  an  Iron  wood  North 
seventy  four  degrees  East  forty  five  links,  also  an  Hickory  South 
sixty  nine  degrees  East  thirty  six  links:  at  two  hundred  and  fonr- 


*In  1865, when  seen  by  Dr.  Peters,  this  monument  was  7 feet  from  the  edge  of 
the  Bank.  In  1878,  the  site  was  at  the  edge,  the  monument  had  fallen  out.  * 


No.  71.] 


381 


teen  chains  and  twenty  seven  links  a Stone  corner  on  the  west 
bank  of  a creek*  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Buttonwood 
South  eighty  two  degrees  East  ninety  two  links,  also  an  Elm  North 
eighty  three  degrees  East  one  chain,  at  two  hundred  and  fifty  four 
chains  and  twenty  seven  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear  a Chesnut  North  forty  five  clegres  East  twenty  four  links,  also 
another  Chesnut  South  forty  nine  degrees  East  twenty  four  links: 
at  two  hundred  and  ninety  four  chains  and  twenty  seven  links  a 
post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Chesnut  North  thirty 
seven  degrees  East  fifty  links,  also  a Maple  South  sixty  five  degrees 
East  forty  six  links : at  three  hundred  and  thirty  four  chains  and 
twenty  seven  links,  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a 
Beech  North  forty  two  degrees  East  thirty  four  links  also  a Poplar 
South  sixty  three  degrees  and  thirty  minutes  East  twenty  seven  links: 
at  three  hundred  and  seventy  four  chains  and  twenty  seven  links 
a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  South  fifty  seven 
degrees  East  sixty  four  links  also  another  Beech  North  thirty  two 
degrees  East  twenty  eight  links : at  four  hundred  and  fourteen 
chains  and  twenty  seven  links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees 
bear  a Beech  South  seventy  two  degrees  East  ten  links  also  another 
Beech  North  forty  six  degrees  East  fifty  six  links  : at  four  hundred 
and  fifty  four  chains  and  twenty  seven  links  a post  from  which 
two  bounded  trees  bear  a Beech  North  twenty  two  degrees  East 
twenty  seven  links  also  another  Beech  South  ten  degrees  East  twenty 
inks:  at  four  hundred  and  ninety  four  chains  and  twenty  seven 
links  a post  from  which  two  bounded  trees,  bear  a Beech  North  forty 
seven  degrees  East  forty  seven  links,  also  a Sugar  Maple  South  sixty 
six  degrees  East  twenty  two  links:]  five  hundred  and  thirty  four 
chains  and  twenty  seven  links  to  the  first  mentioned  sugF  maple 
post  at  the  place  of  Beginning. — Containing  thirty  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty  two  acres;  Surveyed  on  the  29  ~ of  June  and 
following  days  to  the  9th  of  July  1798. 

I certify  that  the  foregoing  is  an  accurate  description  of  Township 
N°  3 in  the  fifteenth  Range  compared  with  and  corrected  from  the 
Original  Field  Notes 

JOSEPH  ELLICOTT  { 

* Twenty  Mile  Creek. 


■8  Chains  , — 12  Chains  r— 194  Chains  27  Links  Dist-  of  Qualities 


382 


[Senate 


Range  15tli 

Remarks  on  Township  17.°.  3 
[West  line  of  T.  8,  R.  15.] 


m 

S3  ?o 

‘5  •q 

o 3 Commencing  with  Upland  of  the  1#  quality, 

timber  Beech,  Basswood,  Sugarmaple,  and  Hickory 

— . . 39  to  a Monument  stone, 

13. . 88  to  a post 

29  — to  a rivulet  bearing  Northwesterly, 

11  — to  a post,  Land  continues  as  above  described, 

12  — to  a small  run  bearing  Northwesterly, 

11  — to  the  commencement  of  a B.  ash  & Hemlock  swamp, 

12  — to  the  South  side  of  said  Swamp, 

5 — to  a post, 

8 . . 50  to  the  Presque  Isle  path, 

31 . . 50  to  a post,  (on  the  last  half  mile,  the  Land  descends 

gradually  to  the  North-west,)  and  to  a Black  ash 
swamp — 

5 . . — to  the  South  side  of  said  swamp  not  miry. 

35. . — to  a post,  Land  level  .and  hne, 

20 — to  the  commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  2"?  quality, 

timber  Chesnut, 

12 — to  the  summit  of  a very  steep  hill*  facing  South- 
westerly, and  to  the  commencement  of 


— Upland  of  the  3rd  quality, 
timber  Chesnut,  Oak  &?. 

8 — to  a stone  standing  on  the  West  bank  of  a creek  2 
perches  wid  bearing  Northwesterly,  also  to  the 
bottom  of  the  above  mentioned  hill  and  to  the  Com- 
mencement of 


— Upland  of  the  2"d  quality,  timber  as  above,  thence 

ascending  another  hill  facing  Northeasterly, 

6 . .  50  to  the  summit  of  said  hill*  too  steep  for  tillage 

33 . . 50  to  a post  Land  somewhat  broken, 

10 — to  the  ascent  of  a steep  hill  facing  S. westerly 

3 — to  the  bottom  of  said  hill,  and  to  a small  run  running 

Northwesterly, 

14. . 22  to  the  summit  of  a hill  facing  southwesterly 


*^orth  and  South  banka  of  Twenty  Mile  Creek  Canyon. 


120  Chains  ,—100  Chains  ,—100  Chains 


No.  71.'] 


383 


78  to  the  bottom  of  said  hill  too  steep  for  tillage  and  to  a 
rivulet  bearing  Northwesterly,*  also  to  the  ascent  of 
another  hill  facing  N.easty.  too  steep  for  cultivation 
50  to  the  top  of  said  hill, 

50  to  a post, 


5 
2 

20 — to  the  commencement  of 


20— 

30.. 

9.. 

40— 


14. 

26. 

18. 

16. 

6. 

11. . 
28.. 


Upland  of  the  If?  quality, 

timber  Basswood  Beech,  Sugar  maple,  with  some 
Hemlock  and  Chesnut; 
to  a post, 

50  to  a small  run  bearing  Northwesterly, 

50  to  a Post,  Land  level  and  hue, 
to  another  post 

to  a rivulet  bearing  Westerly 

to  a post,  Land  very  excellent  covered  with  nettles 
to  a small  run  bearing  South-westerly 
to  another  run  bearing  Westerly 
to  a post 

50  to  a small  run  bearing  Westerly 
50  to  the  first  mentioned  Sugar  maple  post  at  the  place 
of  beginning 


Explored  the  9l£  day  of  July  1798 

JOSEPH  ELLICOTT 

[See  also  small  Field  Books  No.  37,  39,  & 55.] 


Surveyor  for 
Holland  C°. 


* Gorge  about  2,200  feet  North  of  Milestone  4. 


384 


[Senate 


APPENDIX  J. 


[Extracts  from  Field  Book  of  the  Keating  Estate  in  the  Counties  of  Potter  and 
McKean,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  possession  of  Robert  King,  Esq.,  C.  E.,  of  Srnetli- 
port,  McKean  Co. 

This  is  a book  bound  in  vellum:  321  pages,  6 inches  by  15£  inches. 

It  is  probably  a record  of  the  notes  from  the  Field  Books  proper. 

The  earlier  Surveys  were  made  by  Francis  King,  grandfather  of  Robert  King.] 

[Page  1.] 

The  1st  of  the  7th  Month  1801. 

Began  at  a Hemlock  corner  68  perch  west  of  the  Holland  Company 
13  mile  stake  on  the  State  line  where  we  found  a South  line  which 
proved  to  be  the  District  line  dividing  between  districts  N°  2 & 3* 
and  traced  it  South  ascending  a mountain  through  a thick  wind  fall 


[Page  5.] 

Our  provisions  being  exansted  we  returned  home  after  some 
fruitlefs  attempts  to  find  the  line  on  the  east  side  of  our  lands. 

The  12  of  the  10th  month  went  out  to  make  further  search  after 
the  East  line  of  our  lands  mentioned  in  the  last  page 

14th  The  most  of  this  day  proved  wet;  in  the  evening  travelled 
to  the  5 mile  tree  in  quest  of  a North  A South  line  sd  to  have  been 
seen  by  the  hands,  but  could  not  find  such  a line.  Was  led  to  con- 
clude the  line  seen,  was  the  one  blazed  for  a road  from  the  head  of 
Pine  creek  to  the  Oswaya  in  the  fall  of  1797,  which  crofsed  the  line 
Ave  traced  in  an  oblique  manner  from  S.East  to  N.West. 

We  then  Avent  to  meet  the  pack  horses  Avhich  had  been  previously 
directed  to  meet  us  on  the 
[Page  6.] 

South  branch  of  the  Allegany,  thinking  we  should  find  a line  that 
led  that  Avay 

[Page  14.] 

27th Being  short  of  proAdsions  through  the  failure  of  the 

pack  horse,  Ave  could  not  proceed  to  go  round  the  west  part  of  the 
land,  I therefore  resolved  on  returning  to  the  beech  corner  from 
Avhich  we  traced  the  25th  to  which  we  proceeded  & continued  it 
north  to  ascertain  the  distance  to  the  State  line  from  those  lines  we 
had  found  in  this  part. 

• • • • 

[Pago  16.] 

31s.1  Went  out  to  traverse  Some  of  the  lines  West  of  the  Allegany 


* Site  of  Milestone  140. 


No.  71.] 


385 


river  in  order  to  find  the  Chesnut  corner  mentioned  in  the  map  at 
the  junction  of  the  West  line  of  the  District  N°  3,  with  the  State 
line,  and  finding  the  South  line  of  lot  N°  4322  not  far  from  the  S. 
E.  Corner  we  traced  it  West  to  a Sugar  tree  Corner  where  the  West 
line  ended,  when  finding  a line  to  the  South  we  followed  it  one  mile 
to  a beech  corner,  hoping  to  find  a West  line;  here  the  South  line 
ended  and  no  line  appeared  to  west,  but  one  to  East.  We  then  re- 
turned by  the  line  we  came  by,  to  the  former  beech  corner  and  ran 
by  compass  north  to  the  State  line ; which  we  struck  74  ps  East  of 
our  6 mile  mark  on  a Sugar  tree. 

Then  proceeded  to  our  nine  mile  Stake  and  measured  from  it  west 
by  the  State  line. 

At  159.4  pf  in  the  descent  of  alawrelly  mount11,  found  a line  to 
South,  with  much  loping  but  no  corner  marked.  On  this  line  at 
12  p!  from  the  State  line,  we  found  a corner  marked  on  a large  ches- 
nut stump  about  30  feet  high,  with  the  bark  mostly  off. 

The  notches  were  perfect  in  the  timber  except  on  the  west  side 
which  had  not  been  cut  through  the  bark,  but  was  perfect  in  it 
which  we  left  standing  against  the  stump. 

2d  Arrived  at  home  when  it  began  to  Snow. 

[Page  18.] 

291!1  of  7‘?  M° 

North 298.6  ps  the  State 

( 3.1  p?  west  of  151  Mile  tree  ) 
line  •<  3.8  from  the  Suposed  Stake  V . 

(12.3  from  the  151  Mile  Stone  ) 

The  4^  of  the  8^  M?  Measured  from  the  Supposed  Stake  151  Mile 
Mark  West.  At  3.8  p®  our  Corn?  of  lot,  86.6  p?  the  Holld  Com- 
pany’s 24 1 Mile  196  p?  Ascent  of  hill.  245.6  p*  the  H.  Cy.s  25  Mile 
Stake,  280  p*  top  of  hill  320.1  the  152  Mile  Stone. 

At  0.1  p?  Mile  Stone  then  oblique  along  the  point  of  hill,  66  p* 
steep  descent  80  p?  foot  of  steep  hill  83.5  p®  the  H.  Cy.s  25£  mile 
Mark,  157.5  p?  a Stone  w!^  N.  Y.  & P:  221.6  ps  the  H:  Cy.s  26  Mile 
Mark  on  a Beech.  266.6  to  a blazd  Elm  on  the  bank  of  the  Allegany, 
278.9  to  a marked  stone  (on  the  West*  bank  of  d?)  wc?  we  removed 
to  302.3  p?  this  appearing  by  the  pointers  to  be  its  place.  320  P! 
Marked  2 Miles. — 

At  80.5  p*  the  Holland  Cy.s  26^  Mile  mark,  140  p5?  Ascended  grad- 
ually, 230  p!  top  of  hill  240.7  p®  the  H.  Cys  27  Mile  mark,  270  p£. 
descent  of  hill,  310.8  the  154  Mile  stone  2 p?  short  of  a small  run, 
320  ascent  of  hill. 

6th  At  30  p!  top  of  hill,  56  p*  descent  of  hill  79.4  the  H.  Cys  27£ 
mile  post,  12u  p!  foot  of  hill,  161  small  run  from  North,  170  p?  rose 
a point,  180  top  of  point,  200  p?  descent  of  point,  214  foot  of  hill 
220  ps  small  run  from  N.  W,  238  p?  a large  stone  and  a mark  on  a 

*Thi&  undoubtedly  is  a slip  of  the  pen  and  should  be  “ East.”  This  was  Mile- 
stone 158.  The  distance  he  removed  it  would  place  ii  ontheWest  bank  of  the  River 
where  it  has  since  remained.  (See  foot  note,  page  167.) 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  49 


[Senate 


386 

Beech,  W & J Willinks  S W Com?  and  on  another  Beech  28  miles 
from  Gr  & Pi  S.  West  Corn?,  288  ascent  of  Mount1?  310.3  pi  the  155 
Mile  Stone,  320.4  Marked  4 Miles  on  a small  Beech. 

At  16  pi  top  of  hill,  46  pi  descended  oblique  the  hill  76.9  pi  a post 
but  no  marks,  197  pi  small  run  from  N.  W.  in  a narrow  hollow,  170 
pi  top  of  hill,  185  pi  descent,  232.8  p?a  1 mile  post,  300  pi  foot  of 

hill,  319.9  Marked  5 Miles  on  a HemB  320  pi  a Post. 

[Page  19.] 

At  26  ps  small  Creek*  from  N.  W.  71.2  pi  a post,  pafsing  oblique 
to  left  of  hill,  180  pi  a dry  draught  to  right,  then  ascended,  200  pi 
top  of  hill  230.6  pi  to  a 2 Mile  stake,  299.2  the  157  Mile  stone  on 
side  of  high  point  320  pi  Marked  6 miles  on  a small  Sugar  tree. 

At  10  pi  descent  of  hill,  69  pi  the  H:  Cy.s  4 mile  post,  76  small 
run  to  S:  W.  120  pi  top  of  point,  193  pi  small  Spring  run  210  pi  a 
small  spring  run,  221  pi  a small  Creek  from  N:  W,  227.4  to  3 mile 
post,  278  a small  spring  run  280  pi  ascended  oblique  the  hill  to  right, 
284.4  the  158  mile  stone  320  pi  putin  a post  and  marked  7 Miles  on 
a Beech  4 links  back. 

At  66  pi  the  H:  Cy.s  \ mile  post.  72  pi  top  of  narrow  Ridge.  180 
pi  foot  of  hill  193  pi  small  creek  from  N:  W,  223.  9 pi  to  a post 
marked  Ranges  Ni  4 & 5 & Township’s  N?  1,  at  292.5  the  159  Mile 
stone  320  pi  put  in  a post  and  marked  Smiles  on  a large  pine  4 links 
forward. 

7^)  At  23  pi  a small  spring  run  to  left,  41  pi  a small  spring  run 
to  left  63.6  pi  the  H:  Cy.s  £ Mile  post,  122  pi  a little  Creekf  runing  E. 
S.  E,  154  pi  a considerable  spring  run  from  the  left,  180  pi  Marked 
the  distance  on  a large  Beech  and  put  in  a post,  220  pi  a small  run 
from  left  and  ascent  of  hill  223.2  to  a Mile  post  of  the  H:  Cys,  286.7 
pi  the  160  Mile  Stone  320  pi  put  in  a post  and  marked  9 miles  on 
a Beech  13  links  forward  ; a little  past  this  on  the  left  is  a very  large 
rock  and  a smaller  one  on  the  right. — Serched  much  for  the  district 
line,  but  without  efect,  then  returned  toward  home. 

8th  Arived  at  home. — 101!1  and  IB1.1  much  rain. 

t The  31  Meridian  East  of  Cerestown. 

12U1  Went  to  the  Corners  Ni  {§}$}  jlieo}  011  the  4 Mile  line  & ran 
north 


Ascended  gradually  302.6  pi  made  a small  Beech  Corn?  at  the  State 
Ime.J 
[Page  20.] 


First  Meridian  East  of  Cerestown. 

The  26*!1  of  the  S1?  M?  Began  at  Corners  N?  {IS} Him}  on  the  4 
mile  line  and  removin  the  Corn?  19.1  pi  East  and  marking  the  numbers 
on  a Beech  15  links  East,  ran  North. 


* Meeks  Creek.  f Indian  Creek. 

\ North  east  corner  of  Warrant  No.  4330,  13  74  Chains  East  of  N.  E.  Corner  of 
McKean  County, 


No  71.] 


387 


[ Page  21.] 

At  40  p®  descent  of  hill,  99.6  p®  Marked  the  distance  on  a Hem- 
lock by  road. — Then  went  to  a Corn?  made  last  year  35.4  p^  West  of 
a stake  at  the  149  Mile  tree,  on  the  State  line  & ran  South. — At  103 
p?  bank  of  the  Creek  107  p?  South  bank  of  Creek  146  p®  the  run  at 
the  back  of  the  Island  150.7  put  up  a post  160  p?  Marked  \ mile  on 
a small  Iron  wood  in  CornV  of  Meadow,  205  p?  the  road  & right 
angular  with  the  tree  marked  this  morning,  the  distance  to  s?  line 
14.6  p! 

» 

Second  Meridian  East  of  Cerestown. 

Began  at  Corners  N°®{|JJf}  { } on  the  4 mile  line  and  having  re- 
moved the  cornr  15.3  p?  East  and  marked  the  numbers  on  a post  & 
small  Beech  allso,  ran  North. — 


301 .1  p?  made  a post  Corner  on  the  State  line  11.5  p“  west  of  the 
Holland  Compy®  20J  mile  post. — 


[Page  61.] 


Resurveying 

Part  of  the  line  of  Districts 

N°  2 & 3.  by  Tli®  Lightfoot,  [1806.] 


[Page  66.] 

Then  North  266  p®  to  the  State  line  a small  beech  corner 

Then  along  the  State  line  West  at  320  p?  a mile  tree  at  406  p? 
found  an  old  corner  marked  20  miles  at  464  p^  the  147  Mile  Stone 
566 — found-  a post  marked  20J-  M.  583  p®  a post  Corner  at  640  p?  the 
2 Mile  tree  at  686  the  Genesee  Creek  left  at  720  p®  21  Mile  post. 
878  p®  the  21^  Mile  tree  at  960  p®  a large  pine  right  opposite  the 
indian  Camp*  marked  3 mile  .1166  p?  a pine  Continued  at  236  p!  the 
22J  Mile  tree  at  320  p®  the  4 mile  tree  an  ash. 

Continued  at  224  p!the  23£  mile  tree  at  280  p?  the  fOssweye  creek 
right  320  p®  a sugar  marked  5 mile  tree.  Continued  at  102  p®  entered 
the  Osswaye  creek  and  114  p?  left  the  Creek  right  120  p?  the  151  Mile 
Stone  at  132.5  Francis  King’s  Corner.  Left  the  woods  7th  M?  10th 
in  the  evening. 

Continued  went  to  the  woods  7th  M?  14th  with  but  two  hinds. 

Continued  the  State  line  at  160  p®  made  a new  Corner  2 p®  East  of 
a Corner  made  by  Cary  — at  242  p?  post  Marked  25  miles,  at  313  p? 
the  152  mile  stone  at  320  p?  a sugar  mile  tree 
[Page  67.] 

Continued  at  239  p?  a tree  marked  26  miles  at  292  Allegany  right 
294  p®  the  153  milej  320  p?  a mile  marked  on  a hemlock.  Continued 


*Tliis  tree  stood  near  tlie  site  of  the  mills  in  Ceres. 

f Originally  written  Osswego  and  then  altered  in  different  ink  to  Ossweye. 
X See  foot  note  page  167. 


388 


[Senate 


at  296  p®  the  154:  mile  stone  at  320  p?  the  3 mile  tree  a birch  Con- 
tinued at  222  p?  found  a large  stone  marked  PX  & S L.  & a great  deal 
of  Wi-tnefsing*  at  320  p®  the  4 Mile  tree  a hemlock.  Continued  at 
214  found  a post  marked  1 mile  at  301  p®  found  a dead  hemlock 
marked  5 mile  at  320  p®  made  a 5 mile  tree  a beech  by  the  side  of 
a deer  lick  & 3 p®  north  of  a run  running  nearly  East. 

Continued  at  8 p®  a run  left  at  211  p?  a post  marked  2 miles  at 
299  p®  the  6 mile  tree  a Sugar  at  320  p®  a hemlock  6 Mile  tree. 
Continued  at  268  p!  the  158  mile  stone  at  296  p!  a post  marked  7 
mile  320  p®  a beech  marked  7 mile  tree.  Continued  at  263  ps  the 
1 59  Mile  stone  at  292  p®  a large  pine  marked  8 mile  at  320  pe.® 
marked  a hemlock  8 miles. 

Continued  at  148  p®  a beech  marked  8 miles  at  254  p?  the  160 
Stone  at  289  p?  a nine  mile  tree  a few  p®  East  of  a large  rock  (Which 
is  about  1 p®  South  of  the  State  line  I think  it  one  of  the  great 
curiosities  of  nature  about  3 p®  square  & 35  feet  high)  at  320  p®  the 
9 mile  tree  a Sugar.  Continued  at  125  pf  made  a post  corner,  f 
Then  South  land  good  chocolate  Soil  timber  Sugar  maple  beech 
chessnut  white  pine  &c 


[Page  109.] 

On  Tuesday  the  29th  September  1808  Started  for  the  Tunonmag- 
uontj  on  the  same  day  got  191b  of  beef  of  William  Atherton. 
October  the  1st  began  at  an  old  cucumber  corner  on  the  State  line, 
19  ps.  West  of  the  168  mile  stone  on  the  side  hill  Then  South  on  the 
old  line 


[Over  nearly  2 pages. \ 

[Page  110. 

to  the  maple  corner  Then  North  descending  180  p!  foot  of  hill  200 
ps.  large  run  right  220  p?  rising  a hill  326  to  a post  corner  on  the 
State  line.  Now 
[Page  111.] 

back  to  the  maple  East  descending  120  Spring  left  190  large  run  right 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill  250  rising  a hill,  420  hill  480  descend- 
ing 585  p?  to  a beech  corner  on  an  old  line  10  p®  south  of  an  old 
beech  corner.  Then  North  descending  100  p®  foot  of  hill  108  p^  large 
run  right  120  rising  a hill  then  along  the  side  hill  160  spring  right  170 
spring  right  212  run  right  then  rising  a hill  326  p?  to  a beech  cornor 
on  the  State  line  Then  East  along  the  State  line  550  p?  to  a Oucum- 

* Holland  Land  Company’s  28  Mile  point,  Soutli-west  corner  of  Olean. 
f North-west  corner  of  Warrant  No.  5949. 

j Elsewhere  in  the  Field  Book  from  which  these  extracts  are  made  this  name  is 
spelled  Tunemengwant  and  Tunonmegont.  In  the  Holland  Land  Company’s 
Field-books  it  is  spelled  Tunaunguan.  Familiarly  it  is  known  as  Tuna.  C.  D. 
Webster,  C.  E.,  of  Bradford,  Penn.,  found  it  Ischunuongwandt  in  some  old  notes. 
On  the  original  Boundary  Map  it  is  spelled  Cheneonguaont.  Tunegawant  and 
Tunungwant  are  local  variations  in  spelling.  Tuna-uuguant  is  the  most  accept- 
able orthography. 


No.  71.] 


3S9 


ber*  corner  the  place  of  beginning.  Then  returned  home  on  the 
8th  day  of  October  1808. 

[Page  233.] 

31st  of  the  7th  M?  1810. 

Went  to  the  State  linef  & measured  West  161  p?  and  made  a 
beech  corner  and  ran  South  at  239  p?  the  bank  of  the  Allegany  river 
made  a hickory  corner  66  p?  above  the  angle  The  river  runing  S. 
68  E.  Then  measured  West  159.5  p?  and  made  a maple  corner  on 
the  bank  of  river  then  ran  North  up  a small  run.  218.1  to  a sugar 
tree  corner  on  the  State  line.  Showering  & wet  all  the  after  noon 
Then  started  for  potatoe  creek  and  lodged  at  Arnolt  Hunter’s 
[Page  249.] 

Not  having  the  notes  of  the  lots  run  near  the  State  line  this  Sum- 
mer went  to  the  S.  W.  Corner  of  N°  49  and  measured  North  218.2 
p?  to  the  State  line. 

1st  of  10th  M?  1810. 

Began  at  the  West  side  of  N°  49  and  measured  West  144.5  and 
made  a post  corner  on  bank  of  river  and  ran  North  between 
Nos  50.51.  At  113  p?  small  run  to  right  Then  gradual  ascent  240.1  p? 
made  a post  corner  on  the  State  line  Then  measured  West  along 
the  State  line  descending  at  40  p!  foot  of  hill  and  small  run  to  left 

45  ascent  60  top  of  hill  Then  gradual  descent  at  100  p?  foot  of  hill 
and  Small  Creek  to  left  at  118  p8  to  Holland  Company  28  Mile 
mark  136.6  made  a post  corner  and  ran  South  between  N?  51.52.  at 

46  p8  Spring  run  left  Then  oblique  ascent 
[Page  250] 

120  top  of  point  Then  descended  at  180  foot  of  hill  265.6  p?  made 
a hemlock  corner  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 

2d  Measured  West  116.2  p8  and  made  a post  corner  on  the  bank 
of  this  river  by  foot  of  hill.  Then  ran  north  ascending  oak  hill 
pretty  steep,  land  thin  at  21  p®  top  of  hill  Then  gradual  descent  at 
51  p?  Spring  run  to  right  120  p?  foot  of  hill  133  Small  creek  runing 
right  266  spring  run  runing  to  the  left  332  made  a pose  corner  on 
an  old  line  which  we  took  for  the  State  line  altho’  it  was  16.3  p8 
further  than  we  made  it  by  calculation 


*Tlie  above  is  a resurvey  of  lands  covered  by  warrants  4334-5,  etc.,  west  of 
Tuna  Valley,  in  McKean  Co.  The  stump  of  the  Cucumber  was  identified  in  1877, 
and  yet  remains. 

f He  probably  began  at  the  west  bank  of  the  Allegany  River. 


390 


[Senate. 


APPENDIX  K. 


REPRESENTATION  of  NEW  YORK  and  PENNSYLVANIA 
in  ANCIENT  MAPS. 

[The  following  is  a memorandum  of  a large  number  of  Maps, 
published  before  or  during  the  Revolution,  exhibiting  portions  of 
North  America,  which  include  the  provinces  of  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania.  A few  exhibit  the  entire  northern  Continent.  A 
brief  description  of  the  Boundary  line  between  the  two  Provinces, 
as  shown  upon  each  map,  is  given.  It  will  be  noticed  that  in  most 
of  these  maps  the  northern  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania  is  shown 
about  as  claimed  by  Lieut.-Governor  Hamilton  of  Pennsylvania. 

Many  of  the  Maps  referred  to  are  without  date,  so  that  their 
proper  chronological  arrangement  is  impossible.] 

The  Maps  described  in  the  first  Series  are  in  the  New  York  State 
Library  at  Albany. 

“ A MAP  of  the  British  and  French  Dominions  in  North 
America,  with  the  Roads,  Distances,  Limits,  and  Extent  of  the 
SETTLEMENTS,  By  Dv  Jn*?  Mitchell.”  [At  Amsterdam.] 
“ Printed  for  I.  Covens  and  C.  Mortier.”  No  date  [1755  ?] 

A large  map  of  Eastern  America,  apparently  carefully  engraved, 
and  with  a great  deal  of  detail.  Scale,  about  30  miles  to  the  inch. 
All  the  parallels  and  meridians  are  shown.  The  Provinces  are 
colored  different  tints. 

The  Line  of  6 Pensilvania  ’ is  a meridian  north  from  the  head  of 
the  Delaware  River,  which  is  nearly  in  Longitude  74°  30',  to  the- 
parallel  of  43  degrees,  which  it  follows  west  to  Longitude  79°  30', 
passing  through  the  south  end  of  Lake  Genentaha  (Onondaga)  and 
the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie ; the  west  line  being  drawn  parallel  with 
the  Delaware  River. 

Upon  this  map  the  Eastern  branch  of  the  Delaware  is  represented 
as  the  main  River,  the  ‘ Mohocks’  or  Western  branch  being  a short 
stream  coming  in  from  the  north-west.  The  parallel  of  42°  inter- 
sects the  Delaware  above  the  forks  (Hancock),  passes  about  7 miles 
South  of  £ Osewingo’  (Binghamton),  and  just  north  of  ‘ Owegy.’ 

This  undoubtedly  is  the  Map  refered  to  by  Governor  Tryon  in 
his  report  concerning  the  Province  of  New  York.  (See  page  48.) 
[Atlas  1,  No.  41. J 

“ Pensyl vania  Nova  Jersey  et  Nova  York  cum  Regionibus  ad 
Fluvium  Delaware  in  America  Sitis,  Nova  Delineatione  ob  oculos 
posta  per  Mattli.  Seutterum,  S.  C.  M.  Geogr.  Aug.  Vind.” 


No.  71.J 


391 


A roughly  engraved  Dutch  Map  of  no  date.  The  New  England 
States  are  especially  very  much  distorted  ; the  representation  of 
New  Jersey  is  quite  fair,  extending  to  the  northern  claim  line: 
The  three  original  Counties  of  Pennsylvania  are  shown  colored  to  the 
line  of  the  first  Purchase.  A dotted  line  drawn  West  from  the 
Delaware  at  about  the  site  of  Deposit  is  inscribed,  “Die  Grantz  von 
Pensylvanien  nach  dem  Koniglichen  Patent.  Limites  Pensylvanise 
juxta  diploma  regium.”  [Atlas  l,No.  46.] 

“ Pecens  edita  totius  Nova  Belgii  in  America  Septentrionali  .... 

Matthei  Seutteri,  Sac.  Cses.  Maj.  Geographi  August. 

Yind.” 

A terribly  distorted  Map  of  no  date,  probably  older  than  the 
preceeding.  Includes  only  the  north-eastern  Provinces,  which  are 
colored  various  tints. 

An  irregular  dotted  line  drawn  west  from  the  Delaware,  about 
west  of  Catskill  on  the  Hudson,  (but  in  latitude  13°  according  to 
the  margin  of  the  Map)  divides  “ Nova  Belgica  sive  Neu  Trionalis 
Niederland  Nu  Jorck  ” from  “ Neu  Pars  Pennsylvania.5’  [Atlas  l> 
No.  47.] 

“ Totius  Neobelgii  Nova  et  Accuratissima  Tabula.” 

“Apud  Beinier  & Iosua  Ottens  Amstelodami.” 

An  uncolored  Map  of  no  date.  Very  nearly  a duplicate  of  the. 
preceding  Map  with  fewer  subdivision  lines  shown.  The  irregular 
line  between  “ Nu  Jorck  ” and  Pennsylvania  apoears  however.  [Atlas 
1,  No.  48.] 

“ New  Map  of  English  Plantations  in  America  ” 

By  Robert  Morden. 

Maryland  is  bounded  North  by  the  40th  Parallel,  New  York 
coming  down  to  Delaware  Bay,  Pennsylvania  not  shown  (Date 
about  1680  ?)  [Atlas  2,  No.  57.] 

“A  New  Map  of  America  according  to  the  Best  and  Latest 
Observations.” 

Henry  Overton’s  Map  of  North  and  South  America.  No  date. 

No  Boundaries  shown.  The  parallel  of  45°  passes  through  the 
first  two  syllables  “Pensil”  of  Pennsylvania,  which  is  lettered  in 
two  lines  just  west  of  Hudson’s  River.  [Atlas  2,  No.  2.] 

“A  New  & Correct  MAP  of  the  Trading  Part  of  the  West 
Indies  including  the  Seat  of  War  between  Gr  Britain  and  Spain  : 
Likewise  the  British  Empire  in  America. 

174*1  ” 

H.  Overton. 

New  York  and  ‘ Pensilvania  ’ are  divided  by  a waving  dotted  line 
from  the  Delaware  river,  near  the  north-west  corner  of  New  Jersey, 


392 


[Senate 


to  a point  below  the  outlet  of  Lake  Ontario.  The  North  line  of 
Maryland  extends  north-westerly  and  westerly  (nearly  West  of 
Philadelphia)  and  northerly.  East  of  Lake  Erie  and  Niagara  River, 
to  Lake  Ontario.  [Atlas  2,  No.  54.] 

“ Carte  des  Possessions  Angloises  & Francises  du  Continent  de 
PAmerique  Septentrionale  1755.” 

[Name  of  another  torn  off.] 

The  line  of  “ Pensilvanie  ” extends  north  from  near  the  head  of 
Delaware  River  to  a point  a little  north-west  of  Otsego  Lake  and 
thence  west  through  the  head  of  Onondaga  Lake  and  the  Outlet 
of  Lake  Erie.  [Atlas  2,  No.  8.] 

A small  Map  with  no  title,  showing  “ Claims  of  French  in  1756.” 

The  North  line  of  “ Pensilvania  ” extends  west  from  Otsego  Lake 
to  a point  South  of  Niagara.  [Atlas  2,  No.  11.] 

“ Carte  des  Possessions  Angloises  & Frangoises  In  Continent  de 
l’Amerique  Septentrionale  1755  Amsterdam  Chez  P.  & J.  Ottens” 

Provinces  tinted.  North  line  of  Pennsylvania  as  in  preceding 
map.  [Atlas  1,  No.  16.] 

“A  new  and  accurate  Map  of  the  English  Empire  in  North 
America  Representing  their  rightful  Claim  as  confirmed  by  Charters 
.By  a Society  of  Anti-Gall icians ” 

Published  Decr  1755.  Evidently  an  English  transcript  of  the  last 
preceding  Map.  [Atlas  l,  No.  20.] 

“ North  America  from  the  French  of  Ml'  D’Anville  Improved 
with  the  Back  Settlements  of  Virginia  and  Course  of  Ohio  Illus- 
trated with  Geographical  and  Llistorical  Remarks  ” May  1755,  pub- 
lished by  Thomas  J effreys. 

The  North-east  Corner  of  Pennsylvania  is  north-east  of  Otsego 
Lake,  which  however  is  located  due  west  of  a point  between  Albany 
and  “Cooksocket”  and  nearly  (E.  of)  South  75  miles  from  Onon- 
tague,  a Meridian  from  the  head  of  the  Delaware  reaching  to  this 
point.  The  line  passing  due  west  about  33  miles  north  of  the  par- 
allel of  42°,  strikes  through  “Chadocoin”  Lake  and  intersects  Lake 
Erie  east  of  the  site  of  Erie.  The  North  Line  of  Connecticut  pro- 
duced West  would  pass  near  “ Osewingo”  and  about  20  miles  south 
of  the  most  southerly  point  of  Lake  Erie.  [Atlas  1,  No.  22.] 

“ AMERICA  SEPTENTPIONALIS  a Domino  d’Anville  in 
Gallis  edita  nunc  in  Interiorum  Virginiam  deductes  nec  non  Flivii 
Ohio  curfu  aucta  notisq  geographicis  et  historicis  illustrata.  Sump- 
tivus  Komannianorum  Keredum  Norebergae  A0  1756” 

This  Map  is  evidently  a transcript  from  the  preceding,  except 
that  the  marginal  “ Remarks  ” are  in  Dutch.  [Atlas  1,  No.  23.] 

“ Nouvelle  Carte  Particuliere  de  l’Amerique. 

A map  of  the  Britisch  Empire  in  America  with  the  French  Span- 


393 


No.  71.] 

isli  and  the  Dutch  Settlements  adjacent  thereto  by  Henry  Popple,  a 
London  Grave  par  Jean  Conr.  Beck  1756” 

Upon  this  Map  the  course  of  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna 
Divers  is  due  south  and  almost  straight.  The  north  line  of  Penn- 
sylvania passes  due  west  from  the  head  of  the  Delaware  north  of  all 
the  New  York  Lakes  nearly  to  Oswego,  striking  Lake  Ontario  east 
of  Fort  Niagara.  The  west  line  is  a meridian  south  from  Lake 
Ontario,  east  of  Fort  Niagara,  passing  through  the  eastern  extremity 
of  Lake  Erie.  [Atlas  1,  No.  26.] 

“ Carte  Particuliere  de  1’  Amerique  Septentrionale.” 

By  Henry  Popple.  Printed  at  Amsterdam  for  I.  Covens  and  C. 
Mortier.  No  date.  Nearlv  a transcript  of  the  last  preceding  map. 
[Atlas  1,  No.  27.] 

“Carte  Nouvelle  de  V Amerique  Angloise  a 

Amsterdam  Chez  Pierre  Mortier  Libraire.” 

A French  map  with  no  date.  The  line  of  Pennsylvania  is  a me- 
ridian from  the  head  of  the  Delaware  to  a point  north  of  the  Mo- 
hawk, and  then  west,  striking  Lake  Ontario  40  miles  East  of  “ Fort 
de  Conty  ” at  outlet  of  Niagara.  The  South  line  is  drawn  along  the 
4:0th  Parallel.  [Atlas  1,  No.  33.] 

“Nouvelle  Carte  Particuliere  de  1’ Amerique.”  No  date. 
Depresents  the  present  area  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  in 
two  maps,  divided  North  and  South  through  Central  New  York. 
Upon  it,  as  in  some  of  the  preceding,  the  course  of  the  Delaware  is 
almost  straight,  due  South.  The  North  line  of  “Pennsylvania”  is 
drawn  wrest  from  the  head  of  the  Delaware,  passing  between  Oneida 
Lake  and  Oswego,  striking  Lake  Ontario  east  of  Fort  Niagara  ; The 
west  line  passing  east  of  the  Niagara  Diver.  In  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  Map  is  the  following 

“ Me.  Popple  undertook  this  MAP  with  the  Approbation  of  the 
Dight  Honourable  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  Trade  and  Planta- 
tions; and  greate  Care  has  been  taken  by  comparing  all  the  Maps, 
Charts,  and  Observations  that  could  be  found,  efpecially  the  Authen- 
tick  Records  & Actual  Surveys  transmitted  to  their  Lordships  by 
the  Governors  of  the  British  Plantations , and  Others,  to  correct 
the  many  Errors  committed  in  former  Maps,  and  the  Original  Draw- 
ing of  This  having  been  shewn  to  the  Learned  Dr  Edmund  Halley, 
Profesfor  of  Astronomy  in  the  University  of  Oxford  and  F.  D.  S. 
he  was  pleased  to  give  his  Opinion  of  it  in  the  words  following 
“/  have  feen  the  above-mentioned  Map,  wich  as  far  as  I am 
Judge,  feems  to  have  been  laid  down  with  great  Accuracy,  and  to 
shew  the  Position  of  the  different  Provinces  <&  Islands  in  that  Part 
of  the  Globe  more  truly  than  any  yet  extant. 

“EDMUND  HALLEY” 

(Compare  with  any  modern  map  of  the  United  States  !)  [Atlas  1, 
No.  37  & 38.] 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  50 


394:  [Senate' 

“ America  Septentrionalis  A map  of  the  Britisli  Empire  in 
America” 


by  Hen.  Popple”  No  date. 

Rivers  and  Boundary  shown  as  in  other  Popple  Maps.  [Atlas  2, 
No.  7.] 

UA  Map  of  North  America  With  the  European  Settlements  & 
whatever  else  is  remarkable  in  ye  W est  Indies  from  the  lateft  and 
beft  Observations.”  . “ R.  W.  Seale  delin.” 

A small  un colored  map  without  date  — 

The  North  line  of  Pennsylvania  passing  west  from  the  head- of 
the  Delaware  River,  north  of  Oneida  Lake,  strikes  Lake  Ontario 
east  of  Fort  Niagara.  [Atlas  2,  No. 4.] 

[It  was  undoubtedly  from  Maps  of  tlie  character  of  the  few  last  preceding  that 
Gov.  Hamilton  got  iiis  idea  that  Pennsylvania  was  bounded  north  and  west 
partly  by  Lake  Ontario.] 

“ Chart  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean  with  the  British,  French,  & Spanish 
Settlements  in  North  America  and  the  West  Indies  as  also  the  Coast 
of  Africa.”  T.  Jeffreys,  No  date. 

The  line  of  “ Pensil  vania”  is  rather  indistinctly  shown  by  a line 
of  color  passing  from  the  head  of  the  Delaware,  around  Otsego  Lake 
and  down  to  “ Oswiga,”  and  along  Lake  Ontario.  [Atlas  2,  No.  9.] 

A small  map  with  no  title  showing  the  “ French  Dominions  in 
America  as  prepared  by  M.  Bussy,  1761  ” 

The  line  of  Pennsylvania  is  shown  by  color  as  in  the  last  preced- 
ing map.  [Atlas  2,  No.  10.  j 

“A  New  Map  of  North  America  shewing  the  Advantages  obtained 
therein  to  England  by  the  Peace.” 

A map  6 by  8 inches  with  no  date. 

North  line  of  ‘ Pensil  vania  5 drawn  irregularly  from  Otsego  Lake 
west  to  the  frontier  line  of  the  Iroquois  east  of  the  head  of  the 
“ Ohio,”  about  west  from  Albany.  [Atlas  2,  No.  6.] 

“A  New  Map  of  North  America  from  the  Latest  Discoveries, 
1763” 

u J.  Spelsbury  Sculp.” 

A small  map  showing  the  Eastern  half  of  the  present  United  ' 
States.  The  North  line  of  Pennsylvania  passing  west  from  the 
meridian  of  the  head  of  the  Delaware  River,  through  Onondaga  and 
outlet  of  Lake  Erie.  [Atlas  2,  No.  5.] 

“ Province  de  Neuyork  par  ordre  du  Gouverneur  Chez  le  Rouge 
rue  des  grands  augustins.” 

This  map  has  no  printed  title.  The  above  is  written  in  the  margin. 


No.  71.] 


395 


It  includes  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  the  New  Eng- 
land and  Canada  Provinces.  Without  date,  but  the  present  line  be- 
tween New  York  and  New  Jersey  is  shown,  inscribed  “ en  1769.” 

A dotted  line  along  the  parallel  of  42°  is  inscribed,  “ Limites  de 
la  Penfylvanie  par  Patentes.”  It  passes  west  from  near  its  present 
intersection  with  the  Delaware,  to  North  of  Binghamton.  A dotted 
line  starting  from  the  same  point,  passing  south  of  west  to  the  forks 
of  the  Susquehanna,  is  inscribed  “ Limites  Meridionales  entre  la 
Pensylvanie  et  les  Six  Nations.”  [ Atlas  1,  No.  52. ] 

“ A Map  of  the  Whole  Continent  of  America  divided  into  North 
and  South  and  West  Indies” 

“ Compiled  from  Mr  D Anville’s  Maps  of  that  Continent,  1772.” 

Published  in  London,  April  1,  1772,  by  Robert  Sayer. 

North  line  of  Pennsylvania  is  not  shown.  The  East  line  follows 
the  Delaware  to  near  the  present  North-west  Corner  of  New  Jersey, 
then  an  irregular  line  north  crossing  the  upper  Delaware  and  Sus- 
quehanna, terminating  in  Central  New  York.  [Atlas  1,  No.  95.] 

A French  Map  of  the  “ Seat  of  War  in  America.”  “ Supplement 
au  Courier  d L’Europe  No  XNXII  Yol  II”  without  date.  Shows 
the  Boundary  about  as  at  present,  north  of  “ Endless  Mountains.” 
[Atlas  1,  No.  56.] 

An  Accurate  MAP  of  North  America  Describing  and  distin- 
guishing the  British  Spanish  and  the  French  Dominions  on  this 
great  Continent ; Exhibiting  the  Present  Seat  of  War  and  the 
French  Encroachments. 

“Also  all  the  West  India  Iflands  Belonging  to,  and  pofsessed  by 
the  Several  European  Princes  and  States.  The  whole  laid  down  ac- 
cording to  the  latest  and  Moft  authentick  Improvements.  By  Eman 
Bowen  GeogT  to  His  Majesty,  And  John  Gibfon,  Engraver.” 

A map  on  large  scale  with  no  date,  uncolored  but  varnished.  It 
includes  Mexico  and  Central  America  and  the  southern  portion  of 
Hudson’s  Bay. 

The  north  line  of  “ Pensyl vania”  passes  through  “ Onondago,” 
and  “ Oskwego  ” at  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie.  [Atlas  1,  No.  91.] 

“ An  Accurate  Map  of  North  America  Describing  and  distinguish- 
ing the  British  and  Spanish  Dominions  in  the  Great  Continent  Ac- 
cording to  the  Definite  Treaty  Concluded  at  Paris  10th  Feb?  1763.” 

Nearly  a duplicate  of  the  last  preceding.  [Atlas  l,  No.  94.] 

“A  Map  of  the  Middle  British  Colonies  in  North  America  First 
Published  by  Mr  Lewis  Evans  of  Philadelphia  in  1755.” 

Revised  by  T.  Pownall.  Published  March  25,  1776. 


396 


[Senate 


North  line  of  ‘Pensylvania’  shown  by  a green  line  from  the  Dela- 
ware in  Latitude  42°  05'  west  to  Lake  Erie  north  of  “ Jadaxque.” 
A Copy  of  this  Map  is  in  the  possession  of  the  Historical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania.  [Atlas  2,  No.  13.] 

“ A General  Map  of  the  Middle  British  Colonies  in  America 

Corrected  from  Governor  Pownall’s 

Late  Map  of  177 6.” 

Along  the  upper  margin  of  the  map  is  the  legend,  “ The  Seat  of 
War  in  the  Middle  British  Colonies  Containing  Virginia,  Maryland 
the  Delaware  Counties  &ca.” 

The  line  of  Pennsylvania,  dotted  and  colored,  follows  up  “ Great 
Viskill  ” or  Delaware  River  to  about  the  location  of  Deposit,  then 
North-east  to  the  Susquehanna,  and  then  a Meridian  north  to  a point 
7 miles  East  of  “ Oneyda  Lake.”  then  due  west  through  that  Lake 
striking  Lake  Ontario  just  west  of  Oswego ! [Atlas  2, No.  12.] 

u A New  and  Correct  Map  of  North  America  with  the  West  India 
Islands  divided  According  to  the  last  Treaty  of  Peace  Concluded  at 
Paris  101?  Feby  1763,  wherein  are  particularly  Distinguished  the 
Several  Provinces  and  Colonies  which  Compose  the  British  Empire. 
Laid  down  according  to  the  Latest  Surveys,  and  Corrected  from  the 
Original  Materials  of  Goverr  Pownall,  Membr  of  Parliamt,  1777.” 

A large  Map,  evidently  a revision  of  Bowen’s  Map  described  above. 

Shows  the  North  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania  on  the  42°  parallel 
intersecting  the  Susquehanna  below  u Osewingo  ; ” but  an  alternative 
boundary  lined  with  color  runs  north  from  the  head  of  Delaware 
River,  on  the  Meridian  of  75°,  to  a point  near  north-east  corner  of 
Oneida  Lake;  then  west,  passing  north  of  that  Lake,  to  Lake  Onta- 
rio just  West  of  Oswego.  Lines  of  Provinces  colored.  [Atlas  1,  No. 
92.] 

“ Carte  de  la  Partie  Septentrionale  des  Etats  Unis,  comprenant 
Le  Canada  La  Nouvelle  Ecosse,  New  Hampshire,  Massachuset’s  Bay, 
Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  Yorck,  Etat  de  Vermont  avec  partie 
de  Penfilvanie  et  de  New  Jersey.” 

“ Andre  Scripsit.  ’ 

A well  engraved  map  with  no  date,  of  eastern  portion  of  Middle 
States,  with  Canada  and  the  Eastern  States.  Boundary  of  “ Pen- 
sylvanie”  from  the  head  of  the  Delaware  to  “ Conajohari,”  up  the 
Mohawk  to  its  head  and  across  to  Lake  Ontario.  [Atlas  1,  No.  29.] 

u Carte  Generale  des  Etats  Unis  de  l.’Amerique  Septentrionale 
renfermant  aussi  quelques  Provinces  Angloises  adjacentes.” 

“ Andre  scrip  ” 

A Map  showing  the  United  States  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  east  line  of  “ Pensilvanie  ” crosses  from  head  of  Delaware 
River  to  the  Mohawk,  up  which  it  follows,  and  down  the  Black  River 
to  Lake  Ontario.  [Atlas  1,  No.  30.] 


No.  71.] 


397 


“ A New  Map  of  the  United  States  of  North  America  with  the 
British  Dominions  on  that  Continent  &c  By  Samuel  Dunn  Mathe- 
matician Improved  from  the  Surveys  of  Capt.  Carver.” 

Embraces  east  half  of  North  America.  Boundaries  of  the  United 
States  outlined  in  green.  No  Boundary  shown  between  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania.  [Atlas  2,  No.  3.] 

[The  preceding  Maps  are  in  the  New  York  State  Library  in  two 
large  Atlases.  In  Del’Isle’s  Collection  in  the  State  Library  are  the 
following : — ] 

“ L’Amerique  Septentrionale 


Par  G.  del’isle  Geographe 

A Paris 1700” 

Exhibits  all  known  North  America. 

The  north-western  line  of  the  British  Provinces  passes  in  a south- 
westerly direction  across  the  center  of  Lake  Champlain  and  south-east 
of  ‘ Onontague,’  and  east  of  the  Ohio.  The  northerly  corner  of 
4 Pensilvanie’  is  in  this  line,  a little  south  of  east  of  4 Onontague,’  and 
in  Latitude  42°.  The  Delaware  is  a short  stream  not  reaching  so 
far  north.  [No.  69.  Del’Isle’s  Coll.] 

44  Carte  du  Canada  ou  de  la  Nouvelle  France Par 

Guillaume  Del’Isle 1703  ” 

Exhibits  the  North  eastern  part  of  North  America,  North  of 
Virginia. 

North  line  of  ‘Pensilvanie’  runs  westerly  from  head  of  4 Delvar,’ 
in  Latitude  42°,  nearly  to  head  of  Ohio  Elver  and  then  South.  If 
continued  west  it  would  strike  Lake  Erie  near  the  present  site  of 
Erie.  A river  heading  in  44  Buks  ” County  runs  north,  parallel  with 
the  4 Delvar,’  into  a long  lake  a short  distance  west  of  4 Onontague,’ 
and  is  called  44  E.  de  Chowegouen.”  [No.  71,  Del’Isle’s  Coll.] 

44  Carte  du  Mexique  et  de  la  Floride  des  terres  Angloises  et  des 

Isles  Antilles Par  Guillaume  Del’Isle  Geo  Graphe 

1703.” 

Includes  all  the  present  area  of  the  United  States.  The  Pennsyl- 
vania line  is  drawn  very  nearly  as  in  the  last  preceding  map.  [No.  73, 
Del'Isle’s  Coll.] 

44  Carte  de  la  Louisiane  et  du  Cours  du  Mississipi 

Par  Guillaume  Del’isle  de  l’Acadamie  E1.6  des  Sciences.”  1718 

Exhibits  the  entire  area  of  the  United  States  west  of  the  New 
England  States  and  East  of  the  E.  del  Norte. 

4 Pensilvanie  ’ is  bounded  north  by  a line  starting  from  a large  lake 
at  the  head  of  the  Delaware  in  Latitude  41°  30',  and  running  south 
westerly  to  the  Susquehanna  Eiver.  [No.  72,  Del’Isle’s  Coll.] 

“Etats  Unis  de  l’Amerique  Septentrionale  Avec  les  Isles  Eoyale, 
de  Terre  Neuve  de  S*  Jean  l’Acadie  &c  1785.” 


398 


[Senate 


“Chez  Delamarche.” 

The  line  between  “ Pensilvanie”  and  New  York  follows  the  wrest 
branch  of  Delaware  to  the  head,  and  then  an  irregular  line  northerly 
to  Onondaga  Lake  and  down  the  Diver  to  Oswego.  [No.  74  Del’lsle’s 
Coll.] 

In  the  History  of  North  America  by  “ William  Douglass,  M.  D.” 
1755,  facing  the  title  page,  i3  a copy  of  the  Jeffreys  Map,  Atlas  1, 
No.  22,  above.  As  a very  apt  commentary  upon  his  own  map,  wit- 
ness the  following  extract  from  a foot-note  on  page  362  of  Yol.  i: 
“Dr.  Cotton  Mather’s  Maj3  of  New  England,  New  York,  Jersies, 
and  Penfylvania,  is  composed  from  some  old  rough  draughts  of  the 
first  discoverers,  with  obsolete  names  not  known  at  this  time,  and  has 
scarce  any  resemblance  to  the  Country  : it  may  be  called  a very  er- 
roneous antiquated  Map. 

“ Cap1  Cyprian  Southack’s  land  map  of  the  eastern  North 
America,  is  worse ; it  is  as  rude  as  if  done  by  an  Indian,  or  as  if 
done  in  those  ages  when  men  first  began  to  delineate  countries : it 
gives  no  information,  but  has  no  other  bad  effect,  than  turning  so 
much  paper  to  waste.  But  his  large  chart  of  the  Coast  of  Nova 
Scotia  and  New  England,  being  one  continued  error,  and  a random 
performance,  may  be  of  pernicious  consequence  in  trade  and  naviga- 
tion ; therefore  it  ought  to  be  publickly  advertised  as  such,  and  de- 
stroyed, wherever  it  is  found  among  sea  Charts.” 

“ A New  Map  of  the  British  Dominions  in  North  America  with 
the  limits  of  the  Governments  annexed  thereto  by  the  late  Treaty  of 
Peace  and  settled  by  Proclamation  October  7l.h  1763  Engraved  by 
T Kitchen  Geographer.” 

A fairly  engraved  Map  at  page  130  of  the  Annual  Register  (Lon- 
don) for  1763.  It  shows  the  line  of  “ Pensylvania,”  running  north 
•from  the  head  of  the  Delaware  to  the  43d  parallel,  crossing  the  out- 
let of  Otsego  Lake,  then  west,  passing  north  of  “Onondago”  and 
through  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie.  [N.  Y.  State  Library.] 

“ A New  Map  of  North  America  from  the  latest  discoveries, 
1763.” 

A duplicate  of  the  above,  very  clearly  engraved.  Facing  title  page 
of  small  volume  of  Charters  of  various  provinces  in  North  America. 
[N.  Y.  State  Library.] 

“To  His  Excellency  William  Tryon,  Esq!  Captain  General  & 
Governor  in  Chief  of  the  Province  of  New  York  &c  &c.  This 
Map  of  the  Country  of  the  VI  Nations  Proper,  with  part  of  the 
Adjacent  Colonies  is  humbly  inscribed  by  Ids  Excellency’s  Most 
Obedient  humble  Servant,  Guy  Johnson  1771.” 

A MS.  Map  (framed)  in  New  York  State  Library. 

Shows  only  a diagonal  line  extending  south  of  east  from 


No.  71.] 


399 


“ Owegy  ” to  the  point  on  the  Delaware  where  the  present  line 
begins.  “ Tiaoga,”  just  below  the  present  intersection  of  the  Boun- 
dary, is  shown*  very  nearly  west  from  the  Delaware  intersection 
of  the  Line  drawn  on  the  Map. 

This  Map  was  prepared  by  Col.  Guy  Johnson  at  the  request  of 
Rev  Chas.  Inglis,  and  was  attached  by  the  latter  to  “ A Memorial 
concerning  the  Iroquois.”  The  Memorial  with  a copy  of  the  map 
is  to  be  found  in  N.  Y.  Doc.  Hist.  (4°),  iv,  661. 

“ A Chorographical  Map  of  the  Northern  Department  of  North 
America  Drawn  from  the  Latest  and  most  accurate  Observations.” 

A Map  printed  at  New  Llaven,  showing  the  State  of  Term  on  t, 
parts  of  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania,  and  Canada.  No  date.  Copy  published  in  N. 
Y.  Doc.  Hist.  (4°),  iv,  331,  accompanying  papers  on  the  controversy 
between  New  York  and  New  Hampshire. 

Represents  the  north  east  corner  of  Pennsylvania  just  west  of 
Fort  Stanwix ; the  north  line  passing  north  of  Oneida  Lake,  strik- 
ing Lake  Ontario  west  of  Oswego. 

[The  following  Maps  are  among  those  in  the  possession  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  Pen nsyl vania.] 

“ Amerique  Septentrionale  ” corrected  in  1776  by  M.  Hawkins, 
published  at  Paris  in  1777,  is  evidently  a French  transcript  of  the 
map  by  “ Dr.  Michel  ” first  described  in  this  list.  It  shows  the  line 
of  the  Provinces  about  as  in  the  original  Mitchell  Map,  the  north 
line  of  Pennsylvania  being  about  2 minutes  north  of  the  parallel  of 
43  degrees. 

“A  New  Map  of  North  America”  with  no  date,  “Printed  for 
John  Bowles  at  the  Black  Horse  in  Cornhill,  London.”  “This  Map 
is  Laid  down  by  De  la  rochette  and  Engraved  by  Tho.  Kitchen.” 

It  places  the  north-east  Corner  of  Pennsylvania  east  of  Otsego 
Lake,  the  north  line  passing  through  that  Lake,  the  village  of 
“Onondage”  and  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie. 

“A  Map  of  Pennsylvania  New  Jersey  New  York  and  the  three 
Delaware  Counties,”  by  Lewis  Evans,  1749.  Shows  the  Boundary 
between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  upon  the  parallel  of  42  de- 
grees, which  is  drawn  to  intersect  the  Delaware  River  at  the  site  of 
Deposit,  and  the  Susquehanna  at  Owego ; and  the  line  is  marked 
“ The  Bounds  of  Pensil vania  by  Patent.” 

A copy  of  another  Edition  (1755)  of  Lewis  Evans’  Map  (described 
among  the  Maps  in  the  New  York  State  Library.) 

This  Map  is  accompanied  by  a 32  page  Octavo  book  of  “ Geo 


400 


[Senate 


graphical,  Historical,  Political,  Philosophical  and  Mechanical  Essays. 
The  First  Containing  an  Analysis  Of  a General  Map  of  the  Middle 
British  Colonies  in  America  And  of  the  Country  of  the  Confederate 
Indians  A Description  of  the  Face  of  the  Country  ; The  Boundaries 
of  the  Confederates  And  the  Maratime  and  Inland  Navigations  of 
the  Several  Ilivers  and  Lakes  Contained  therein  By  Lewis  Evans 
Philadelphia  Printed  by  B.  Franklin,  and  D.  Hall.  MDCCLY.” 

In  a foot  note  to  page  3,  Mr.  Evans  remarks  u ¥e  call  nothing 
Surveys  but  actual  Mensuration  with  a Chain,  and  the  Course  taken 
with  a good  Surveying  Instrument.  Courses  with  a Pocket  Com- 
pass and  computed  Distances  we  call  Computations .” 

“ The  Province  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  with  part  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  province  of  Quebec  Drawn  by  Major  Holland 
Surveyor  General  of  the  Northern  District  in  America  Corrected 
and  Improved  from  the  Original  Materials  By  Governor  Pownall 
Member  of  Parliament  1776.” 

Gives  no  northern  boundary  to  Pennsylvania;  but  it  shows  the 
parallel  of  42  degrees  drawn  through  the  site  of  Deposit  and  north 
of  “Osewingo”  (Binghamton). 

Sauthier’s  Map  of  1779  does,  not  reach  West  of  the  Delaware 
River,  and  so  does  not  show  the  position  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Boundary.  [N.  Y.  Doc.  Hist.,  Vol.  i.] 

The  two  Maps  represented  in  Yol.  viii,  of  the  Colonial  History 
of  New  York,  (Sketch  No.  1 being  a transcript  from  one)  are  already 
mentioned  in  the  text. 

“ A General  Map  of  the  Northern  British  Colonies  in  America 


“ Regulated  by  the  Astronomical  and  Trigonometrical  Observa- 
tions of  Major  Holland  and  Corrected  from  Governor  Pownall’s 
Late  Map  1776  ” 

Embraces  the  North  East  provinces,  N.  J.,  and  N.  Y.,  and  east 
half  of  Penn.  The  Boundary  between  New  York  and  Pennsylvania 
is  a Meridian  from  the  Delaware  river  near  the  present  east  line  of 
Broome  County,  north  to  near  Fort  Stanwix,  and  then  a line  drawn 
west,  passing  north  of  “ Onondaga  (Oneida)  Lake  ” to  Lake  Ontario 
west  of  Oswego. 

“A  General  Map  of  the  Middle  British  Colonies  in  America 
Corrected  from  Governor  Pownall’s  Late  Map,  1776  ” 

The  Boundary  between  the  two  States  is  represented  very  nearly 
as  in  the  preceding. 

[The  last  two  maps  are  N°  3 and  4 in  the  “ American  Military 
Pocket  Atlas”  in  the  New  York  State  Library.  Published  in  Lon- 


No.  71.] 


40  i 


don  by  Sayre  and  Bennett.  I believe  there  is  a copy  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  Library.] 

“To  the  Honorable  Thomas  Penn  and  Richard  Penn  Esquires 
True  and  Associate  Proprietors  and  Governors  of  the  Province  of 
Pennfyl vania  and  the  Territories  thereunto  belonging  and  to  the 
Honorable  John  Penn  Esquire  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  Same 
This  Map  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  Is  humbly  dedicated 
by  their  most  Obedient  humble  Servant  W.  Scull.  Philadelphia 
printed  by  James  Nevel  for  the  Author  April  1st  1770.” 

In  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  Internal  Affairs  at  Harrisburg. 
It  shows  a line  extending  east  from  “ Owegy,”  north  of  ‘Chenengo,’ 
nearly  to  the  river  north  of  Ouaquago,  and  then  South.  This  is 
Robert  L.  Hooper’s  line  of  1774,  mentioned  at  page  58.  It  also 
shows  the  line  north  west  from  the  forks  of  the  Susquehanna,  fixed 
by  the  Treaty  of  1754,  afterward  abrogated. 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  51 


402 


[Senate 


APPENDIX  L. 


The  Disputes  with  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut. 

The  settlement  of  the  claims  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  to 
lands  “ beyond  the  Province  of  New  York,”  based  upon  their  orig- 
inal charters,  forms  an  interesting  chapter  in  the  history  of  both 
the  Parallel  and  Meridian  Boundaries.  The  story  of  the  Massachu- 
setts claim  is  really  a part  of  the  history  of  the  Meridian  Boundary. 

I. 

The  Massachusetts  Claim. 

King  James  I granted  by  Letters  Patent  in  1620,  November  3,  to 
“ The  Council  established  at  Plymouth,  in  the  County  of  Devon,  for 
the  planting,  ruling,  ordering,  and  governing  of  New  England  in 
America,  ....  all  that  part  of  America  lying  and  being  in 
breadth,  from  fourty  degrees  of  northerly  latitude,  from  the  equi- 
noxtiall  line,  to  fourty-eight  degrees  of  the  said  northerly  latitude, 
inclusively,  and  in  length  of,  and  within  all  the  breadth  aforesaid, 
throughout  the  maine  lands,  from  sea  to  sea,  together,  also,  with  all 
fir  me  lands,  soyles,  grounds,  havens,  ports,  rivers,  waters,  fish- 
ing, mines,  and  mineralls,  as  well  royall  mines  of  gould  and  silver, 
as  other  mines  and  mineralls,  precious  stones,  quarries,  and  all  and 
singular  other  commodities,  jurisdictions,  royalties,  privileges,  fran- 
chises, and  prehemininces,  both  within  the  said  tract  of  land  upon 
the  maine,  and  also  within  the  islands  and  seas  adjoining : Provided 
always  that  the  said  islands  or  any  the  premises  hereinbefore  men- 
tioned, and  by  these  presents  intended  and  meant  to  be  granted,  be 
not  actually  possessed  or  inhabited  by  any  other  Christian  Prince  or 
State,  nor  within  that  Southern  Colonies  heretofore  by  us  granted 
to  be  planted  by  divers  of  our  loving  subjects,  in  the  south  part.” 

The  exception  in  the  proviso  applied,  among  other  possessions,  to 
those  of  the  Dutch  along  and  near  the  Hudson  River.  Upon  19 
March  1628,  the  Council  conveyed  to  Sir  Henry  Rosewell  and  his 
associates,  “ all  that  Parte  of  Newe  England  in  Amirica  which  lyeth 
and  extendeth  between  a great  River  there  cominonlie  called  Mono- 
mack, alias  Merrimack  River,  and  a certen  other  River  there,  called 
Charles  River,  being  in  the  Bottome  of  a certen  Bay  there,  comonlie 
called  Massachusetts  ....  and  all  Landes  and  Hereditaments 
whatsoever  lyeing  within  theLymitts  aforesaide,  North  and  South,  in 
Latitude  and  Bredth,  and  in  Length  and  Longitude,  of  and  within  all 


No.  71.] 


403 


the  Bredtli  aforesaide,  throughout  the  Mayne  Landes  there  from  the 
Atlantick  and  Westerne  Sea  and  Ocean  on  the  East  Parte,  to  the 
South  Sea  on  the  West  Parte.” 

A charter  was  granted  in  1629,  4 March,  by  Charles  I covering 
the  same  lands,  with  the  proviso  excepting  lands  “ actually  possessed 
or  inhabited  by  any  other  Christian  Prince  or  State.”  The  south 
bounds  of  this  grant  were  afterward  found  to  be  in  .Latitude  42°  027, 
the  latitude  of  the  present  north  boundary  of  Connecticut. 

In  1664,  12  March,  Charles  II  granted  to  his  brother,  James,  the 
Duke  of  York,  certain  lands  in  New  England.  “ Together  alsoe 
with  the  said  Liver  called  Hudsons  Liver  and  all  the  land  from  the 
west  side  of  Connectecutte  Liver  to  the  east  side  of  De  la  Ware 
JBay  This  part  of  the  grant  interfered  with  the  pre- 

vious grants  to  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts.  The  extent  inland 
was  not  fixed  ; the  limit  of  “ the  South  Sea”  even  being  omitted.  The 
presumption  is  that  the  Southward  bound,  the  east  side  of  Delaware 
Liver,  following  up  the  Delaware  Liver,  was  also  intended  to  be 
its  western  bound  — King  Charles  evidently  construed  it  thus  when 
he  made  his  grant  to  Penn  in  1682. 

At  the  date  of  this  grant  (of  1664)  the  territory  which  it  covered 
was  in  the  possession  of  the  Dutch,  holding  originally  under  a trad- 
ing charter  incorporating  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  in  1621, 
with  indefinite  jurisdiction.  As  is  remarked  in  the  History  of  the 
Meridian  Boundary  the  Dutch  were  a coastwise  people,  confining 
their  settlements  to  a narrow  margin  along  the  navigable  waters, 
making  no  formal  claim  over  the  interior  of  the  country  beyond  that 
of  a few  manorial  grants  with  definite  boundaries.  Their  title  in- 
land seems  to  have  been  rather  prospective  than  actual,  as  is  shown 
by  Yan  der  Donck  in  his  Description  of  New  Netherland  in  1656. 

“On  the  north,  the  river  of  Canada  stretches  a considerable  dis- 
tance, but  to  the  northwest  it  is  still  undefined  and  unknown.  Many 
of  our  Netherlander  have  been  far  into  the  country,  more  than  sev- 
enty or  eighty  miles  from  the  river  and  sea-sliore.  We  also  fre- 
quently trade  with  the  Indians  who  come  more  than  ten  and  twenty 
days’  journey  from  the  interior,  and  who  have  been  farther  off  to 
catch  beavers,  and  they  know  of  no  limits  to  the  country,  and  when 
spoken  to  on  the  subject  they  deem  such  enquiries  to  be  strange  and 
singular.  Therefore  we  may  safely  say,  that  we  know  not  how 
deep,  or  how  far  we  extend  inland.  There  are  however  many  signs, 
which  indicate  a great  extent  of  country,  such  as  the  land  winds, 
which  domineer  much,  with  severe  cold,  the  multitudes  of  beavers, 
and  land  animals  which  are  taken,  and  the  great  numbers  of  watei- 
fowl,  which  fly  to  and  fro,  across  the  country,  in  the  spring  and  fall 
seasons.  From  these  circumstances  we  judge  that  the  land  extends 
several  hundred  miles  into  the  interior;  therefore  the  extent  and 
greatness  of  this  province  are  still  unknown.” 

To  remove  any  doubt  of  the  validity  of  the  Duke’s  title,  the  char- 
ter of  1664  was  supplemented  and  confirmed  by  a second  grant,  29 
June,  1674,  covering  the  same  territory. 


404 


[Senate 


In  1684  the  Massachusetts  Charter  of  1629  was  adjudged  void  by 
the  High  Court  of  Chancery  of  England.  This  apparently  did  not 
affect  the  validity  of  the  deed  given  by  the  Council,  although  the 
Hew  York  Council  was  of  the  opinion  in  1753  that  the  original 
Charter  of  1620,  under  which  the  deed  was  given,  was  void  in  itself, 
which  would  include  the  deed  in  its  effects.* 

Upon  the  application  of  the  agents  of  the  Colonists  a new  charter 
was  granted  7 October  1691,  incorporating  the  colonies  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay  and  Hew  Plymouth,  Maine  and  Nova  Scotia  into  “one 
real  province,  by  the  name  of  our  province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay, 
in  New-England.”  The  Boundaries  of  the  new  province  included 
“ all  that  part  of  New  England,  in  America,  lying  and  extending  from 
the  great  river  commonly  called  Monomack,  alias  Merimack,  on  the 
north  part,  and  from  three  miles  northward  of  the  said  river  to  the 
Atlantick  or  Western  Sea  or  Ocean  on  the  South  part,  and  all  the 
lands  and  hereditaments  whatsoever,  lying  within  the  limits  afore- 
said, and  extending  as  far  as  the  outermost  points  or  promontories  of 
land  called  Cape-Cod,  and  Cape-Malabar,  north  and  south,  and  in 
latitude,  breadth,  and  in  length,  and  longitude,  of  and  within  all  the 
breadth  and  compass  aforesaid,  throughout  the  main  land  there,  from 
the  said  Atlantic  or  Western  Sea  and  Ocean,  on  the  east  part,  towards 
the  South  Sea,  or  Westward,  as  far  as  our  colonies  of  Bhode-Island, 

Connecticut,  and  the  Narraganset  country ” 

The  new  Charter,  it  will  be  seen,  limited  the  Colony  “ toward  the 
South  Sea,  or  Westward”  as  far  as  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  no 
doubt  with  the  idea  that  the  western  limit  of  Connecticut  had  been 
fixed  by  the  agreement  between  the  Commissioners  of  the  Duke  of 
York  and  Delegates  from  the  Colony,  30  November,  1664,f  twenty 
miles  east  of  Hudson’s  River,  and  subsequently,  28  Nov.,  1783,  con- 
firmed by  agreement  between  Governor  Dongan,  and  Governor 
Treat  and  the  Commissioners  of  Connecticut.^: 

Connecticut  however  claimed  lands  west  of  the  province  of  New 
York,  and  practically  made  good  her  claim  in  her  contest  with  Penn- 
sylvania, as  we  shall  presently  see.  Under  this  construction  of  the 
Connecticut  Charter,  the  lands  conveyed  by  the  Second  Massachu- 
setts Charter  would  be  co-extensive,  and  reach  beyond  the  province  of 
New  York  also. 

The  Massachusetts  General  Court  in  1754,  held  that  notwithstand- 
ing the  decision  of  the  Court  of  Chancery  on  the  charter  of  1629,  the 
charter  of  1691  practically  confirmed  the  original  grant  of  1620 
through  which  Sir  Henry  Rosewell  and  others  obtained  title.§ 
Governor  Tryon  in  his  report  upon  the  Province  of  New  York  in 
1774,||  in  answer  to  the  question,  “ What  are  the  reputed  Boundaries, 
and  are  any  Parts  disputed  and  by  whom  argues  the  case  in  favor 
of  New  York  thus  ; “ The  Boundaries  of  the  Province  of  New  York 

* N.  Y.  Council  Minutes  (MS.)  xxiii,  55. 
fN.  Y.  Col.  MSS.,  lxix,  4 
j Idem  lxix,  10 


Idem  lxxviii,  64 

N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  viii,  434-457. 


No.  71.] 


405 


are  derived  from  Two  Sources  First,  the  Grants  from  King 
Charles  the  Second  to  his  Brother  James  Duke  of  York  dated  the 
12  March  166f,  and  the  29  June  1674,  which  were  intended  to 
convey  to  the  Duke  all  the  Lands  claimed  by  the  Dutch,  the  first 
occupants  of  this  Colony. — Secondly,  from  the  Submission  and  Sub- 
jection of  the  Five  Nations  of  Indians  to  the  Crown  of  England. 

“The  Descriptive  part  of  both  the  Duke’s  Grants  is  in  the  same 
Words  and  exclusive  of  the  territory  Eastward  of  Connecticut  River, 
since  granted  to  the  Massachusets  Bay  by  their  Charter  of  1691, 
comprehends  ‘ All  that  Island  or  Islands  commonly  called  Matta- 
wacks  or  Long  Island,  together  with  Hudson’s  River,  and  all  the  Land 
from  the  West  side  of  Connecticut  River  to  the  East  side  of  Dela- 
ware Bay.’  Connecticut  River  extends  beyond,  and  Hudson’s  River 
takes  its  rise  a little  to  the  Southward  of  the  Forty  fifth  Degree  of 
Northern  Latitude  ; And  as  a Line  from  the  Head  of  the  River  Con- 
necticut to  Delaware  Bay,  would  exclude  the  greatest  part  of  Hud- 
son’s River,  which  is  expressly  granted  to  the  Duke  of  York,  the 
Boundary  most  consistent  with  the  Grants  to  the  Duke,  and  the 
Claim  of  New  York  founded  thereon,  is  a Line  from  the  Head  of 
Connecticut  River  to  the  Source  of  Hudson’s  River,  thence  to  the 
Head  of  Mohawk  Branch  of  the  Lludson’s  River,  and  thence  to 
the  East  side  of  Delaware  Bay. 

“That  this  has  been  the  reputed  Boundary  under  the  Duke’s 
title  has  been  confirmed  by  the  Grants  of  this  Government  extend- 
ing Westward  nearly  to  the  Head  of  the  Mohawk  Branch  of 
Hudson’s  River,  and  Southward  of  that  Branch  to  within  a few  miles 
of  the  North  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania. 

“No  other  Construction  will  justify  the  Terms  of  the  Grants  to 
the  Duke,  nor  any  Lines  less  comprehensive,  include  the  Lands  pat- 
ented by  this  Province  or  ceded  to  the  Crown  by  the  Indians,  at  the 
Treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  in  1768. 

“The  Second  source  of  the  Title  of  this  Government  is  grounded 
on  the  claim  of  the  Five  Nations  who  are  in  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht 
acknowledged  by  France  to  be  subject  to  Great  Britain. 

“ Soon  after  the  English  conquered  this  Country  from  the  Dutch, 
pursuing  their  system  of  Policy,  they  entered  into  a strict  Alliance 
with  the  Natives,  who  by  Treaties  with  this  Colony,  subjected  them- 
selves to  the  Crown  of  England,  and  their  Lands  to  its  protection, 
and  from  this  Period  were  always  treated  as  Subjects,  and  their 
Country  consider’d  by  this  Government  as  part  of  the  Province  of 
New  York,  which  probably  gave  rise  to  the  extended  jurisdiction 
of  this  Colony  beyond  the  Duke’s  Grants,  signified  by  the  words 
‘ The  Teretories  depending  thereon  ’ which  are  found  in  ail  the  Com- 
missions of  the  Crown  to  its  Governors 


“ It  is  uncertain  at  this  Day  to  what  Extent  the  Five  Nations  car- 
ried their  claim  to  the  Westward  and  Northward  but  there  is  no  doubt 
it  went  to  the  North  beyond  the  45  Degree  of  Latitude  and  West- 


406 


[Senate 


ward  to  Lake  Huron,  their  Beaver  Hunting  Country  being  bounded 
to  the  West  by  that  Lake,  which  Country  the  Five  Nations  by  Treaty 
with  the  Governor  of  this  Province  at  Albany  in  1701,  surrender’d 
to  the  Crown  to  be  protected  and  defended  for  them  — Mitchel  in 
his  Map*  extends  their  claim  much  further  Westward,  and  he  is 
supported  in  this  opinion  by  Maps  and  other  authorities  very  Ancient 
and  Bespeetable. 

“ The  above  Treaty  of  1701  is  to  be  found  among  the  Becords  of 
Indian  Transactions  but  it  is  recited  and  the  surrender  made  thereby 
confirmed  in  a Deed  dated  the  14  September  1726f  by  which  the 
Seneca,  Cayouga  and  Onondaga  Nations  also  surrender’d  their  Hab- 
itations to  King  George  the  first 

“ Without  any  view  to  the  more  Westerly  claim  of  the  Five  Na- 
tions, supposing  the  Colony  to  comprize  within  its  Limits  or  Juris- 
diction, the  Country  those  Nations  surrendered  to  the  Crown  by  the 
Description  of  the  Beaver  Hunting  Country  as  before  mentioned — 
The  Boundaries  of  the  Province  of  New  York  are  as  follow. 


“ On  the  West Thence  the 

North  Boundary  Line  of  Pensylvania  to  the  Northwest  Corner  of 
that  Province;  and  continuing  the  same  Line  to  a point  in  Lake  Erie 
which  bears  due  South  from  the  East  Bank  of  the  Streight  of 
D’Etroit  and  of  Lake  Huron  to  the  Forty  Fifth  Degree  of  Northern 
Latitude. 

“ On  the  North.  A Line  from  a point  on  the  East  bank  of  Lake 
Huron  in  the  Latitude  of  forty  five  East  to  the  Biver  St.  Lawrence, 
or  the  South  Boundary  Line  of  Quebec ; Thence  along  the  South 
Boundary  Line  of  that  Province  across  the  Biver  St.  Lawrence  to  the 
Monument  on  the  East  Bank  of  Lake  Champlain,  fixed  there  in  the 
45  Degree  of  Northern  Latitude ; Thence  East  along  the  Line 
already  run  and  marked  to  the  Monument  or  Station  fixed  on  the 
West  Bank  of  the  Biver  Connecticut  in  the  same. Latitude.” 

Then  speaking  of  the  dispute  with  Massachusetts  over  the  Eastern 
Boundary  of  New  York  he  says  after  mentioning  the  abrogation  of 
the  Massachusetts  Charter  of  1829,  “ instead  of  so  extensive  and 
unreasonable  a Grant  of  Three  Thousand  Miles  in  length,  they  ob- 
tained, it  is  true,  by  that  Charter  [1691]  a great  addition  of  Territory 
Eastward,  but  were  confined  in  their  Western  Limits,  which  extend 
6 toward  the  South  Sea  as  far  as  the  Colonies  of  Bhode  Island,  Con- 
necticut and  the  Narragansett  Country.’” 

* See  Appendix  K. 

f This  Deed  contains  an  actual  surrender  to  tlie  Crown  by  the  Senecas,  Cay  ugas 
and  Onondagas,  of  “ All  that  Land  lying  & being  sixty  Miles  Distance  taken 
Directly  from  the  Water  into  the  Country,  Beginning  from  a creek  called  Cana- 
hogue  [Cuyahoga  River]  on  the  Lake  Oswego,  [Erie]  all  along  the  said  Lake  ’’and 
the  Niagara  River  and  Lake  “ Catarackqui  ” [Ontario],  “to  the  creek  called  Cay- 
nunghage  [Salmon  River]  belonging  to  the  Onnondages.”  (See  N.  Y.,  Col.  Hist.,  v, 
800-1).  The  Indian  Deed  of  1701  is  in  N.  Y.,  Col.  Hist.,  iv,  908-9.  It  covered  an 
indefinite  area  as  far  west  as  the  head  of  Lake  Michigan. 


N o.  71.] 


407 


Then  referring  still  farther  at  length  to  this  claim  he  asserts  that 
“ had  it  been  considered  as  well  grounded  would  long  since  have 
been  prosecuted  and  brought  to  a decision.  ...  A claim  so 
long  dormant,  can  hardly  be  expected  under  any  Circumstance  to 
be  now  revived  with  a prospect  of  success,  and  whatever  Judgment 
the  Assembly  of  Massachusetts  Bay  may  have  formed,  certainly 
their  present  Governor  had  no  opinion  of  its  solidity,  when  at  the 
late  meeting  of  the  Commissaries  of  both  Provinces  at  Hartford  in 
1773,  he  declared,  ‘ That  it  was  a mere  Ideal,  Visionary  project,  in 
which  he  believed  Nobody  to  be  sincere,’  and  discovered  an  anxiety 
least  it  should  interrupt  the  progress  of  the  Treaty.” 

Governor  Tryon  herein  acknowleges  that  the  most  consistent 
western  boundary  of  New  York  according  to  the  Grant  to  the  Duke 
of  York  is  the  Delaware  River. 

Massachusetts  apparently  made  no  formal  claim  to  lands  westward 
of  New  York  under  either  of  these  charters  until  after  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  disputes  during  the  Colonial  period  were  confined  to 
the  proper  Eastern  Boundary  of  the  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York. 
The  westward  claim  was  incidental.  During  the  discussion  of  this 
subject  between  the  Assemblies  of  the  two  Provinces  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts  in  February  1768,  “ Resolved , 1st.  That 
the  Massachusetts  government  have  always  claimed  as  their  right, 
jurisdiction  over  the  whole  territory,  within  their  north  and  south 
limits,  from  the  Atlantic  ocean  to  the  South  sea,  saving  only  such 
part  thereof  as  on  the  third  day  of  November,  in  the  eighteenth 
year  of  King  James  the  First,  wras  actually  possessed  or  inhabited 
by  any  other  Christian  prince  or  state.” 

And  also  resolved  to  concede  a line  twenty  miles  east  from  the 
Hudsons  River,  “ Provided , That  this  concession,  if  not  agreed  to 
by  New  York,  be  not  improved  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts claim  ; Provided  also , That  nothing  shall  be  understood  to 
prejudice  the  right  of  this  province  to  lands  westward  of  the  prov- 
ince of  New-York.  And  this  court,  for  the  reasons  above  men- 
tioned, doth  further  concede,  that  the  aforementioned  lines  of 
distance  from  Hudson’s  river,  shall  be  measured  as  horizontal  lines, 
instead  of  lines  measured  according  to  the  surface  of  the  earth.” 

To  this  the  New  York  Assembly  at  once  responded,  (5  February,) 
“ That  this  house  are  sorry  to  find,  that  their  hopes  entertained  of  a 
friendly  agreement  between  the  colonies,  will  probably  be  frustrated 
by  the  immoderate  claims  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  it  appearing  from 
the  said  resolutions  of  the  general  court,  that  disputes  may  arise 
between  that  colony  and  this,  as  well  with  respect  to  our  western  as 
our  eastern  boundary,  there  being  a proviso  inserted,  that  nothing 
in  their  resolutions  is  to  be  understood  to  prejudice  the  right  of 
that  province  to  lands  westward  of  this  colony,  which  this 
house  apprehend  may  prove  a new  and  fruitful  source  of  anx- 
iety and  confusion,  not  only  to  this  colony  and  Pennsylvania, 


« 


408 


[Senate 


but  to  all  the  new  colonies  that  his  majesty  may  hereafter  think 
proper  to  establish  to  the  westward  as  far  as  the  South  seas.” 

“ That  if  the  province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  will  not  recede 
from  their  last  resolution,  the  house  conceive  that  there  is  no  pros- 
pect of  a friendly  accommodation  of  these  differences,  by  any  agree- 
ment between  the  two  colonies ; the  house  being  of  opinion,  that 
even  if  the  acceptance  of  the  last  offer  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay, 
should  be  agreeable  to  the  private  patentees  under  this  province,  by 
a farther  cession  of  right  for  the  sake  of  peace ; yet  as  the  crown  is 
so  deeply  affected  by  these  extravagant  claims  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  on  the  east  side  of  Hudson’s  river,  and  their  still  more  exorbi- 
tant pretensions  to  the  westward  of  this  province,  no  countenance 
should  be  given  to  the  last  resolutions  of  the  general  court,  until  his 
majesty  shall  be  pleased  to  signify  his  royal  pleasure  on  this  head.” 

The  Revolution  intervened  with  the  question  unsettled,  although 
an  attempt  was  made  in  1773  to  run  a line  between  the  provinces 
under  an  agreement  made  18  May,  but  which  failed  from  a 
disagreement  of  the  surveyors. 

In  1784  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  presented  a petition  to 
Congress  in  which  after  reciting  the  Grant  of  1620  and  the  Deed 
to  Sir  Henry  Rosewell  and  his  associates  with  the  descriptions  of 
territory  contained  therein  they  say,  “ in  breadth  of  latitude  afore- 
said, extending  throughout  all  the  main  land,  in  longitude  west- 
wardly  to  the  southern  ocean.  And  the  said  legislature  in  their 
claim  herein  described,  do  aver,  that  the  point  or  place  situate  3 
miles  south  of  the  bay  called  Massachusetts-Bay,  is  a point  or  place 
situate  in  42  degrees  of  northern  latitude,  2 minutes  north ; and 
that  the  place,  point  or  boundary  aforesaid,  of  3 miles  to  the  north- 
ward of  every  part  of  the  river  Merrimac,  is  a place  or  point  situ- 
ate in  44  degrees  northern  latitude,  15  minutes  north;,  and  that  by 
the  grant  aforesaid,  the  said  Sir  Henry  Roswell  and  his  associates,  be- 
came seized  of  all  the  lands  before  described  and  contained  in  the  grant 
aforesaid,  of  the  said  council  established  at  Plimouth ; and  that  the 
same  grant  was  confirmed  to  the  said  Henry  Roswell  and  his  asso- 
ciates, by  the  said  king  Charles,  by  his  letters  patent,  dated  in  the 
4th  year  of  his  reign ; and  that  the  said  sir  Henry  Roswell  and  his 
associates,  were,  immediately  upon  making  the  grant  aforesaid  by 
the  said  council,  in  the  actual  seizen  and  possession  of  all  the  lands 
aforesaid,  and  for  many  years  held  the  same,  under  the  name  and 
title  of  the  governor  and  company  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  in  Hew 
England. 

u And  whereas  the  state  of  Hew- York  have  set  up  a claim  to 
some  part  of  the  land  beforementioned,  and  it  being  highly  neces- 
sary to  have  the  same  claims  brought  to  an  immediate  decision, 
they  do  therefore,  in  behalf  of  the  said  commonwealth,  most  sol- 
emnly request  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled, 


No.  71.] 


409 


that  Commissioners  may  be  appointed  for  enquiring  into  and  de- 
termining upon  the  claim  aforesaid  of  the  said  legislature,  and  that 
such  other  proceedings  respecting  the  premises  may  be  had,  as  are 
by  the  federal  government  of  the  said  United  States  in  such  cases 
made  and  provided.” 

New  York  had  in  1780  ceded  the  western  portion  of  her  claim  to 
the  United  States,  but  as  yet  Massachusetts  had  taken  no  action. 
She  wished  first  to  assert  before  Congress  her  prior  claim  to  the  ter- 
ritory. 

On  the  third  day  of  June,  1784,  Congress  “Resolved,  That  the 
first  Monday  in  December  next,  be  assigned  for  the  appearance  of 
the  said  states  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York,  by  their  lawful 
agents,  at  the  place  in  which  Congress  shall  then  be  sitting,”  and 
the  two  states  were  notified  to  appear. 

Charles  De  Witt,  a Delegate  from  New  York,  in  a letter  to  Gov. 
Clinton,  4 June,  says:  — UI  hope  the  Legislature  have  taken  every 

precaution  respecting  the  W Territory.  I believe  Sir  a Plan  is 

formed  and  perhaps  wrought  into  System  to  take  that  Country  from 
us.  Massachusetts  Delegates  have  put  in  a petition  yesterday  from 
the  Legislature  of  that  State  setting  forth  that  New  York  is  pos- 
sessed of  a part  of  their  Land  and  requested  a Court  agreeably  to 
the  Confederation  for  a Decision  &c , &c.  I shall  bring  with  me  a 
Copy  thereof,  but  my  fears  are  not  so  great  from  this  quarter  than 
from  a quarter  which  I do  not  know  how  to  name.  I shall  postpone 
it  to  a future  Day.  The  whole  world  seem  to  look  on  that  W — 
Country  with  a wishful  eye,  and  I fear  they  will  go  farther  to  ob- 
tain it,  than  is  consistent  with  the  peace  of  the  Union.  I hope, 
however,  that  New  York  will  collect  all  its  wisdom  and  take  such 
decided  and  spirited  steps  as  may  counteract  every  unlawful  attempt 
in  the  Sate,  which  if  they  do  not  it  is  lost.” 

Governor  Clinton,  18  October,  in  a message  to  the  Legislature 
called  their  attention  to  this  action  of  Congress : — “ Since  the  close  of 
the  last  session,  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts  have 
thought  fit  to  set  up  a claim  to  lands  which,  it  is  to  be  inferred,  from 
their  Petition  to  the  Honorable  the  United  States  in  Congress,  lie 
some  where  within  the  antient  jurisdiction  of  this  State,  but  in 
what  part,  to  what  extent  is  left  in  obscurity.  They  have,  not- 
withstanding, requested,  that  a Federal  Court  may  be  appointed  for 
enquiring  into  and  determining  such  claim  ; and  Congress  have  ac- 
cordingly assigned  the  first  Monday  in  December  next,  for  the  ap- 
pearance of  both  States,  and  such  other  proceedings  as  are  directed 
by  the  Articles  of  Confederation  and  Perpetual  Union.  From  the 
Act  of  Congress  of  the  3d  day  of  June  last  on  this  subject,  and  the 
papers  accompanying  it,  you  will  perceive  the  necessity  of  appoint- 
ing Agents  to  manage  the  controversy  on  the  part  of  this  State  ; 
and  of  calling  for  an  explicit  description  of  the  lands  claimed  by 
the  Massachusetts,  without  which  we  must  be  exposed,  in  our  de- 
fence, to  unnecessary  difficulties  and  expence,”  and  on  12th  Novem- 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71. J 52 


410 


[Senate 


ber  following  tile  Legislature  passed  an  “ Act  to  appoint  Agents  or 
Commissioners  for  vindicating  the  Right  and  Jurisdiction  of  this 
State,  against  the  claims  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,” 
in  which  James  Duane,  John  Jay,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Egbert 
Benson  and  Walter  Livingston  were  declared  to  be  the  agents  of 
New  York  State  and  were  directed  to  attend  the  prescribed  court, 
“ when  lawfully  constituted,  and  there  to  represent  this  State,  and  to 
manage,  vindicate  and  defend  the  Rights  and  Jurisdiction  thereof 
against  the  claim  of  the  said  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  by 
all  lawful  Ways  and  Means,  with  full  Power  and  Authority  to  em- 
ploy such  Counsel  learned  in  the  Law,  and  such  Solicitors  as  they 
shall  think  necessary,  to  enable  them  more  effectually  to  discharge 
the  Trust  reposed  in  them  by  this  Act.” 

And  the  act  further  provided  that  it  should  not  be  construed  to 
affect  in  any  wise  the  agreement  to  run  the  line  between  the  States 
made  18  May,  1773.  The  New  York  Legislature  had,  the  day  be- 
fore the  passage  of  the  act  above  memtioned,  passed  an  act,  appoint- 
ing a new  commission  to  join  with  Massachusetts  in  running  the  line 
between  the  States  on  the  basis  of  the  agreement  of  1773. 

John  Lowell  and  James  Sullivan  with  the  delegates,  for  the  time 
being,  to  Congress  from  that  State,  wTere  appointed  Agents  to  repre- 
sent Massachusetts  in  the  trial  of  the  claim. 

The  Agents  of  the  two  States  appeared  befor  Congress  in  due 
form  and  on  10  December  17S4,  that  body  u Resolved , That  the 
agents  for  the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York  be,  and  they 
are  hereby  directed  to  appoint,  by  joint  consent,  commissioners  or 
judges  to  constitute  a court  for  hearing  and  determining  the  matter 
in  question,  agreeable  to  the  9th  of  the  articles  of  Confederation 
and  perpetual  Union.” 

Tiie  Agents  found  so  much  difficulty  in  obtaining  judges  to  con- 
stitute the  court  provided  in  the  Resolution  of  Congress  that  in  1786, 
28  April  the  Legislature  of  New  York  passed  a Supplementary  Act, 
appointing  John  Haring,  Melancton  Smith,  Robert  Yates,  and  John 
Lansing,  Jr.,  agents  in  place  of  John  Jay  and  Walter  Livingston 
who  could  not  attend  to  the  duties,  and  providing  “ That  it  shall  and 
may  be  lawful  for  the  said  James  Duane,  fand  others],  or  any  five 
or  more  of  them,  to  settle  the  said  Controversy  between  this  State 
and  the  Commonwealth  of  the  Massachusetts,  otherwise  than  by  the 
said  Federal  Court,  as  mentioned  in  the  said  Act,  in  such  Manner  as 
they  shall  judge  most  conducive  to  the  Interest  of  this  State.” 

Thus  as  in  the  question  of  the  cession  of  the  western  lands,  New 
York  took  the  initiative  toward  an  amicable  settlement  of  this  con- 
troversy. 

The  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  responded  5 July  17S6,  thus: — 

“ Whereas  it  appears  that  the  Legislature  of  New-York,  have  by 
their  act  empowered  the  Commissioners  by  them  appointed  for  vin- 
dicating the  right  and  jurisdiction  of  the  State  of  New  York,  against 
the  claim  of  this  Commonwealth,  to  settle  the  controversy,  otherwise 
than  by  the  Federal  Court : 


.No.  71.] 


411 


I.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  in 
General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That 
the  Agents  or  Commissioners  appointed  by  this  Government  to  de- 
fend the  territory  of  this  Commonwealth  on  the  west  side  of  Hud- 
son’s river  against  the  claim  of  the  State  of  New  York,  or  the 
major  part  of  the  said  Agents  or  Commissioners,  be,  and  they  are 
hereby  fully  authorized  and  empowered  to  agree  with  the  Agents  or 
Commissioners  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  settle  the  contro- 
versy respecting  the  territory  aforesaid,  by  a Federal  Court,  as 
appointed  by  virtue  of  the  confederation,  or  otherwise,  in  such  way 
and  manner  as  they  shall  judge  will  comport  with  justice,  and  the 
interest  of  this  Commonwealth.” 

Meanwhile  at  the  formal  request  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  two 
States,  Congress  appointed  John  Ewing,  David  Rittenhouse,  and 
Thomas  Hutchins,  Commissioners  to  settle  and  run  the  Jurisdiction 
line  East  of  the  Hudson. 

And  finally  without  a resort  to  a court,  by  mutual  agreement 
among  the  Agents  of  the  two  States,  this  long  and  acrimonious  dis- 
pute was  happily  ended,  and  16  December,  1786  at  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut, four  Commissioners  fromMassachusetts  and  six  from  Hew 
York  signed  in  duplicate,  an  “Agreement  entered  into  by  the 
Commissioners  appointed  to  settle  the  Controversy  between  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  and  the  State  of  Hew-York, 
respecting  Lands  lying  westward  of  Hudson’s  River,”  in  which  they 
mutually  agreed  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  two  states  “ to  the  mutual 
cessions,  grants,  releases  and  other  provisions  following,  that  is  to 
say ; 

First.  The  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  doth  herebv  cede, 
grant,  release  and  confirm  to  the  State  of  New  York  forever,  all  the 
claim,  right  and  title  which  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 
hath  to  the  government,  sovereignty,  and  jurisdiction  of  the  lands 
and  territories  so  claimed  by  the  State  of  New  York  as  herein  be- 
fore stated  and  particularly  specified. 

“ Secondly.  The  State  of  New- York  doth  hereby  cede,  grant, 
release  and  confirm  to  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts , and  to 
the  use  of  the  Commonwealth,  their  grantees,  and  the  heirs  or  as- 
signs of  such  grantees  forever,  the  right  of  pre-emption  of  the  soil 
from  the  native  Indians,  and  all  other  the  estate,  right,  title  and 
property,  (the  right  and  title  of  government,  sovereignty  and  juris- 
diction excepted)  which  the  State  of  New  York,  hath  of,  in  or  to 
two  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  and  four  hundred  acres,  to  be  lo- 
cated by  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  and  to  be  situate  to 
the  northward  of,  and  adjoining  to  the  lands  granted  respectively  to 
Daniel  Cox  and  Robert  Lettice  Hooper,  and  their  respective  asso- 
ciates, and  between  the  rivers  Owcga  and  Chenengo.  And  also,  of, 
in  or  to  all  the  lands  and  territories  within  the  following  limits  and 
bounds,  that  is  to  say:  Beginning  in  the  north  boundary  line  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  in  the  parrallel  of  forty-two  degrees  of 


412 


[Senate 


north  latitude,  at  a point  distant  eighty-two  miles  west  from  the 
north-east  corner  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania , on  Delaware- River, 
as  the  said  boundary-line  hath  been  run  and  marked  by  the  Com- 
sioners  appointed  by  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New- York  re- 
spectively, and  from  the  said  point  or  place  of  beginning,  running 
on  a due  meridian  north  to  the  boundary  line  between  the  United 
States  of  America , and  the  King  of  Great- Britain  • thence  west- 
erly and  southerly  along  the  said  boundary  line  to  a meridian  which 
will  pass  one  mile  due  east  from  the  northern  termination  of  the 
Streight,  or  waters  between  Lake- Ontario  and  Lake-Erie ; thence 
south  along  the  said  meridian  to  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Ontario  : 
thence  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  said  Streight,  by  a line  always 
one  mile  distant  from  the  parrallel  to  the  said  Streight,  to  Lake- 
Erie  / thence  due  west  to  the  boundary  line  between  the  United 
States  and  the  King  of  Great  Britain j thence  along  the  said 
boundary  line,  until  it  meets  with  the  line  of  cession  from  the  State 
of  New- York  to  the  United  States;  thence  along  the  said  line  of 
cession,  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  and 
thence  east  along  the  northern  boundary  line  of  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania to  the  said  place  of  beginning  : And  which  said  lands  and 
territories  so  ceded,  granted,  released  and  confirmed,  are  parcel  of 
the  lands  and  territories  described  in  the  said  petition. 

“ Thirdly.  The  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  doth  hereby 
cede,  grant,  release  and  confirm  to  the  State  of  New- York  and  to 
the  use  of  the  State  of  New- York,  their  grantees,  and  the  heirs  and 
assigns  of  such  grantees  forever,  the  right  of  pre-emption  of  the  soil 
from  the  native  Indians,  and  all  other  the  estate,  right,  title  and 
property,  which  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  hath  of,  in  or 
to  the  residue  of  the  lands  and  territories  so  claimed  by  the  State  of 
New- York,  as  herein  before  stated,  and  particularly  specified. 

“ Fourthly . That  the  lands  so  ceded,  granted,  released  and  con- 
firmed to  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts , or  such  part  thereof 
as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  and  remain  the  property  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts , shall  during  the  time  that  the  same 
shall  so  be  and  remain  such  property,  be  free  and  exempt  from  all 
taxes  whatsoever,  and  that  no  general  or  State  tax  shall  be  charged 
on,  or  collected  from  the  lands  hereafter  to  be  granted  by  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts , or  on  the  occupants  or  proprietors  of 
such  lands,  until  fifteen  years  after  such  confirmation,  as  is  herein- 
after mentioned,  of  such  grants,  shall  have  expired  ; but  that  the 
lands  so  to  be  granted,  and  the  occupants  thereof,  shall  during  the 
said  period,  be  subject  to  town  or  county  charges  or  taxes  only : 
Provided , That  this  exemption  from  general  or  State  taxes,  shall 
not  be  construed  to  extend  to  such  duties,  excises,  or  imposts,  to 
which  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  State  of  New-  York , shall  be  sub- 
ject and  liable. 

“ Fifthly . That  no  rents  or  services  shall  be  reserved  in  any 
grants  to  be  made  of  the  said  lands  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, 


* This  was  four  years  before  the  line  of  cession  was  run. 


413 


No.  71.] 

“ Sixthly . That  the  inhabitants  on  the  said  lands  and  territories, 
being  citizens  of  any  of  the  United  States,  holding  by  grants  from 
the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts , shall  be  entitled  to  equal 
rights  with  the  other  citizens  of  the  State  of  New- York  • and  fur- 
ther that  the  citizens  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts , shall 
from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  hereafter,  have  and  enjoy  the 
same  and  equal  rights,  respecting  the  navigation  and  fishery,  on  and 
in  Lake  Ontario  and  Lake  Erie , and  the  waters  communicating 
from  one  to  the  other  of  the  said  lakes,  and  respecting  the  roads  and 
portages  between  the  said  lakes,  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  had 
and  enjoyed  by  the  citizens  of  the  State  of  New-  York  / and  the 
citizens  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  shall  not  be  subject 
to  any  other  regulations,  or  greater  tolls  or  duties  to  be  made  or  im- 
posed from  time  to  time  by  the  State  of  New - York , respecting  the 
premises,  than  the  citizens  of  the  State  of  New-  York  shall  be  sub- 
ject to. 

Seventhly.  That  no  adverse  possession  of  the  said  lands  for  any 
length  of  time,  shall  be  adjudged  a disseizen  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts. 

Eighthly.  That  the  State  of  Neio - York , so  long  as  any  part  of 
the  said  lands  shall  be,  and  remain  the  property  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts , shall  not  cede,  relinquish,  or  in  any  man- 
ner divest  themselves  of  the  government  and  jurisdiction  of  the  said 
lands  or  any  part  thereof,  without  the  consent  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts. 

“ Ninthly.  That  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts , may  from 
time  to  time,  by  persons  to  be  by  them  authorized  for  the  purpose, 
hold  treaties  and  conferences  with  the  native  Indians,  relative  to  the 
property  or  right  of  soil  of  the  said  lands  and  territories  hereby 
ceded,  granted,  released  and  confirmed  to  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts,  and  with  such  armed  force  as  they  shall  deem  neces- 
sary for  the  more  effectual  holding  such  treaty  or  conference ; and 
the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  within  six  months  after  such 
treaties  shall  respectively  be  made,  shall  cause  copies  thereof  to  be 
deposited  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  of  New  York. 

u Tenthly.  The  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts , may  grant  the 
right  of  pre-emption  of  the  whole  or  of  any  part  of  the  said  lands  and 
territories  to  any  person  or  persons,  who  by  virtue  of  such  grant, 
shall  have  good  right  to  extinguish  by  purchase,  the  claims  of  the 
native  Indians.  Provided,  however,  that  no  purchase  from  the  na- 
tive Indians  by  any  such  grantee  or  grantees,  shall  be  valid,  unless 
the  same  shall  be  made  in  the  presence  of,  and  approved  by  a super 
intendent  to  be  appointee!  for  such  purpose  by  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts,  and  having  no  interest  in  such  purchase ; and 
unless  such  purchase  shall  be  confirmed  by  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts. 

^Eleventhly.  That  the  grantees  of  the  said  lands  and  territories 
under  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts , shall  within  six  months 


414 


[Senate 


after  the  confirmation  of  their  respective  grants,  cause  such  grants 
or  the  confirmation  thereof,  or  copies  of  such  grants  or  confirmations 
certified  or  examplified  under  the  seal  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts , to  be  deposited  in  the  said  office  of  the  Secretary  of 
State  of  New-  York , to  the  end  that  the  same  may  he  recorded  there, 
and  after  the  same  shall  have  been  so  recorded,  the  grant’ees  shall  be 
entitled  to  receive  again  from  the  said  Secretary  their  respective 
grants  or  confirmations,  or  the  copies  thereof,  which  soever  may 
have  been  so  deposited,  without  any  charge  or  fees  of  office  whatso- 
ever, and  every  grant  or  confirmation  which  shall  not,  or  of  which 
shall  not  be  so  deposited,  shall  be  adjudged  void.” 

Governor  Clinton  announced  the  settlement  of  the  controversy  to 
the  Legislature  of  New-York,  13  January,  1787,  as  follows:  “I 
have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that  the  Law  j>assed  at  the  last 
Session  of  the  Legislature,  vesting  Commissioners  with  discretion- 
ary power,  to  determine  the  controversy  between  this  State  and  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  otherwise  than  by  a Foederal  Court, 
hath  been  carried  into  full  effect;  all  interfering  claims  both  with 
respect  to  territory  and  jurisdiction  being  finally  adjusted. — The 
mutual  agreement  and  act  of  cession  executed  with  the  usual  sol- 
emnities by  the  Commissioners  of  both  States,  is  now  laid  before  you  ; 
and  I have  the  fullest  confidence  that  the  conduct  of  your  Commis- 
sioners in  a mission  equally  difficult  and  important,  will  meet  with 
your  entire  approbation  ; and  that  adequate  provision  will  be  made 
for  the  services  and  expences  which  have  arisen  in  laborious  prepara- 
tions for  the  trial,  as  well  as  in  the  final  extinguishment  of  the  con- 
test.” 

In  order  to  quiet  the  apprehensions  of  the  Indians  who  inhabited 
the  ceded  territory,  the  Legislature  of  New  York  in  1787,  February 
20,  passed  the  following : 

Resolved , That  in  order  to  prevent  any  uneasiness  which  may 
arise  in  the  minds  of  the  Six  Nations,  from  misrepresentations  of  the 
terms  of  the  mutual  agreement  and  act  of  cession  lately  executed 
between  the  Commissioners  on  the  part  of  this  State,  and  on  the  part 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  relative  to  the  land  within 
this  State,  now  held  and  occupied  by  the  said  Indians,  it  is  necessary 
that  the  said  agreement  and  act  of  cession  be  communicated  and  ex- 
plained to  them,  as  soon  as  may  be. 

“ Resolved , That  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  make  such  com- 
munication and  explanation  in  person,  if  necessary,  or  by  such  other 
person  or  persons  as  he  shall  appoint  for  the  purpose  ; and  that  he 
transmit  a copy  of  these  resolutions  to  the  Executive  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts,  and  express  as  the  wish  of  this  Legis- 
lature that  a similar  communication  should  also  be  made  on  the  part 
of  the  said  Commonwealth,  at  such  time  and  place,  as  shall  be  agreed 
on  between  their  Excellencies  the  Governor  of  this  State,  and  the 
Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.” 


No.  71.  J 


415 


In  the  statements  of  account  current  of  the  State  of  New  York 
with  Gerard  Bancker,  Treasurer,  we  find  the  following  entries: — 

£ s.  d. 

1785.  To  cash,  paid  the  Commissioners  for  managing  the  Massa- 
chusetts controversy,  respecting  the  Western  territory.  880  10  6 


1786.  To  ditto,  paid  [as  above] 772  10  8 

1789.  Paid  Commissioners  [as  above] 1357  16  10 


The  Western  boundary  of  the  territory  relinquished  by  New  York 
was  fixed  upon  the  Eastern  line  of  the  territory  ceded  by  New  York 
to  the  United  States  by  the  act  of  her  delegates  in  Congress  1 March, 
17S1  in  pursuance  of  An  Act  to  facilitate  the  Completion  of  the 
Articles  of  Confederation,  and  perpetual  Union  among  the  United 
States  of  America,”  passed  19  February,  1780.  This  action  of  the 
Delegates  from  New  York  was  concurred  in  by  Massachusetts,  when 
the  delegates  in  Congress  from  that  State,  authorized  by  an  act  of 
the  Legislature  passed  13  Nov.,  1781,  to  cede  or  relinquish  u by  au- 
thentick  conveyance  or  conveyances,  to  the  United  States,  to  be  dis- 
posed of  for  the  common  benefit  of  the  same,  agreeably  to  a Resolve 
of  Congress  of  October  the  tenth,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty,  such  part  of  that  tract  of  land  belonging  to  this  Common- 
wealth, which  lies  between  the  rivers  Hudson  and  Mississippi , as 
they  may  think  proper ; and  to  make  the  said  cession  in  such  man- 
ner and  on  such  conditions  as  shall  appear  to  them  to  be  most  suit- 
able,” upon  19  April,  1785,  signed  a Deed  of  Cession  to  the  United 
States  of  all  lands  so  claimed  west  of  the  line  as  fixed  in  the  Act  or 
Deed  of  the  New  York  Delegates. 

The  location  of  this  line  upon  the  ground  was  unknown  at  the  time 
the  mutual  agreement  was  signed,  as  it  was  not  run  until  1790.  The 
Parallel  Boundary  even,  west  of  Milestone  90,  had  not  been  run  at 
the  time  of  the  signing. 

The  vast  domain  included  in  that  portion  of  the  lands  released  by 
New  York  west  of  the  Meridian  of  Milestone  82.  covering  some  of 
the  most  fertile  lands  of  the  State,  reaching  about  115  miles  along 
the  Parallel  Boundary,  was  in  April,  17^8,  contracted  by  Massachu- 
setts to  Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham,  acting  for  a syndicate, 
for  one  million  dollars.  By  a treaty  with  the  Six  Nations  in  July, 
1788,  the  Indian  title  to  the  portion  of  the  tract  east  of  the  Meridian 
of  the  Forks  of  the  Genesee  was  extinguished,  and  on  the  21  Novem- 
ber in  that  year,  Massachusetts  formally  deeded  to  Phelps  and  Gor- 
ham this  portion  of  the  tract,  which  has  since  been  known  as  the 
“ Phelps  and  Gorham  Purchase.” 

Mr.  Phelps  took  the  active  management  of  the  Estate,  established 
a land  office  and  commenced  the  surveys,  dividing  it  into  Ranges 
and  Townships  somewhat  after  the  present  United  States  system. 
After  some  sales  were  made,  Phelps  and  Gorham  conveyed  the 
remainder  of  the  Tract,  18  Nov.,  1790,  to  Robert  Morris,  by  whom 
the  surveys  were  mainly  completed,  under  the  supervision  of  Major 
Adam  Hoops*,  and  many  sales  were  made.  Morris  conveyed  the 

* See  page  113. 


416 


[Senate 


residue  of  the  Tract  adjoining  the  Boundary,  to  Charles  Williamson, 
11  April,  1792,  and  he  in  turn  transferred  it  31  March,  1801,  to 
Sir  William  Pulteney  of  England,  for  whom  he  was  acting  as  agent. 
These  lands  have  since  been  known  as  the  “ Pulteney  Estate.” 

The  East  line  of  this  territory  was  not  run  until  after  Massachm 
setts  had  conveyed  it.  Certain  parties  who  had  purchased  from  the 
State  of  New  York  a location  including  the  site  of  the  present  vil- 
lage of  Geneva,  proposed  to  Phelps  and  Gorham  to  join  in  a survey 
of  the  line.  It  was  run,  and  passed  entirely  west  of  Seneca  Lake, 
and  under  such  circumstances  that  Phelps  and  Gorham  suspected  a 
fraudulent  error  in  favor  of  the  other  parties.  A re-survey  was  not 
undertaken  until  the  tract  was  purchased  by  Robert  Morris,  in  whose 
deed  the  land  east  of  the  line  was  specified  as  a “ Gore.”  At  the 
request  of  Major  Hoops,  Andrew  Ellicott  undertook  the  re-survey 
of  the  line,  and  a true  Meridian  was  run  under  his  direction,  by  his 
youngest  brother  Benjamin,  assisted  by  Augustus  Porter.  The  sur- 
vey was  made  in  1794.  A transit  was  used,  and  this  was  probably 
the  first  transit  line  (except  the  meridian  boundary)  ever  run  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  A wide  vista  was  cut  through  the  woods ; 
across  Seneca  Lake,  through  which  the  line  passes  for  ten  miles,  the 
line  is  said  to  have  been  run  with  night  signals.  The  old  line  was 
found  to  diverge  very  rapidly  to  the  west  for  half  the  distance 
across  the  state  and  then  followed  about  parallel  with  the  other.  The 
lines  are  about  2J  miles  apart  at  Geneva.  The  Legislature  of  New 
York,  when  the  old  line  was  found  to  be  fraudulent,  directed  Sur- 
veyor General  DeWitt  to  re-run  it,  as  the  interference  affected  the 
title  to  two  tiers  of  Lots  in  the  Military  Tract.  Mr.  DeWitt  found 
that  there  were  only  two  transits  in  the  country,  one  owned  by  An- 
drew Ellicott,  the  other  by  Dr.  Rittenhouse,  neither  of  which  was 
available  at  the  time.  He  therefore  satisfied  himself  by  an  examina- 
tion of  Benj.  Ellicott’ s Notes  and  methods,*  that  the  new  survey  was 
accurately  made.  Upon  his  certificate  the  Legislature  confirmed  the 
Ellicott  line,  or  “New  Pre-emption  Line  ” as  it  was  afterward  called, 
and  its  accuracy  has  never  since  been  disputed. 

After  Phelps  and  Gorham  had  paid  about  one-third  of  the  pur- 
chase price,  they  were  unable  further  to  comply  with  their  agree- 
ments with  Massachusetts,  and  suit  was  commenced  on  their  bonds. 
After  a protracted  negotiation  the  matter  wras  settled  by  mutual 
agreement  10  March,  1791,  by  which  Phelps  and  Gorham  relin- 
quished to  Massachusetts  the  portion  of  the  land  not  covered  by  their 
Deed. 

Upon  11  May  in  the  same  year,  Massachusetts  conveyed  to  Robert 
Morris,  in  pursuance  of  an  agreement  previously  entered  into  with 
Samuel  Ogden,  all  the  lands  ceded  by  New  York,  west  of  the  lands 
already  deeded  to  Phelps  and  Gorham.  The  conveyance  was  made 
in  five  separate  Deeds.  The  first  Deed  covered  the  land  lying  East 

*For  interesting  papers  relating  to  this  subject  see  pages  187-196,  Field  Book 
No.  35,  in  office  of  Secretary  of  State,  Albany. 


No.  71.] 


417 


of  a meridian  drawn  north  from  the  Pennsylvania  line,  12  miles 
west  from  the  southwest  corner  of  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  land. 

The  lands  included  in  the  other  four  deeds,  Morris  deeded  in  four 
conveyances,  at  various  dates  in  1792-3,  to  Herman  Le  Roy  and 
others,*  who  held  the  lands  in  trust  fur  certain  Holland  gentlemen 
who,  being  aliens,  could  not,  under  the  laws  of  the  State  at  the  time, 
hold  the  title  in  their  own  names.  Several  changes  in  the  trustees 
were  afterward  made,  and  after  transfers  of  a portion  of  the  land, 
under  Legislative  sanction,  the  Tract  was  conveyed  in  four  separate 
deeds  to  the  individuals  composing  the  Holland  Land  Company. 
The  fourth  of  the  last  series  of  Deeds  was  dated  31  January,  1799, 
and  conveyed  to  Wilhem  Willink,  Wilhem  Willink,  Jr.,  Jan  Willink, 
and  Jan  Willink,  Jr.,  200,000  acres,  extending  along  the  Boundary 
16  miles  from  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Tract,  including  the  south 
end  of  the  first  three  ranges;  and  also  100,000  acres  in  a narrow 
strip,  since  known  as  the  Willink  Strip,”  off  the  east  side  of  all 
the  towships  in  Range  7.  The  other  three  Deeds  dated  31  January, 
1793,  conveyed  in  the  aggregate  300,000  acres,  to  the  members  in- 
dividually, of  the  Holland  Land  Company  proper,  who  were  Wilhem 
Willink,  Nicolaas  van  Staphorst,  Pieter  van  Eeghen,  Hendrick 
Yollenhoven,  and  Rutger  Jan  Schimmelpenninck.f 

Theophile  Cazenove  was  the  first  General  Agent.  Upon  his 
return  to  Europe  in  1799,  Paul  Busti  took  his  place,  and  acted  as 
General  Agent  until  his  death  twenty-five  years  afterward. 

The  Surveys  of  the  Tract  were  placed  under  the  general  super- 
vision of  Joseph  Ellicott,  a brother  of  Andrew.  Under  his  direction 
the  entire  tract  was  in  1798  and  1 799  laid  out  into  Ranges  and  Town- 
ships, which  were  afterward  subdivided  into  Sections. 

Robert  Morris  retained  the  strip  of  12  miles  covered  by  his  first 
deed  from  Massachusetts,  and  from  this  circumstance  it  has  always 
been  known  as  the  “ Morris  Reserve.”  It  was  divided  into  two 
Ranges,  with  Townships,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Holland  Com- 
pany’s Lands,  but  he  sold  it  out  in  large  tracts  regardless  of  the 
Township  lines. 

[Note. — For  a detailed  account  of  the  settlement  of  the  “Massachusetts  Pre- 
emption see  Turner’s  “ History  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase,”  and  “ His- 
tory of  the  Holland  Purchase.”] 


II. 

The  Connecticut  Claim. 

The  contest  between  Massachusetts  and  New  York  was  entirely 
based  on  a technical  paper  title.  Massachusetts  had  never  attempted 
to  take  actual  possession  of  any  of  the  lands  she  claimed  west  of  the 

* Herman  Le  Roy’s  name  occurs  in  all  the  Deeds.  One  deed  was  to  two  grantees, 
and  in  each  of  the  other  deeds,  the  number  of  grantees  was  three. 

t The  original  deeds  of  all  those  transfers,  and  the  original  Field  Notes  of  the 
Township  surveys,  are  deposited  in  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Albany. 
(See  Appendix  H.) 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


53 


418  [Senate 

premises  occupied  by  New  York,  by  actual  settlement  or  by  convey- 
ance of  the  fee  to  other  parties,  until  after  an  amicable  adjustment 
and  settlement  of  her  claim. 

With  Connecticut  it  was  different.  So  far  as  her  controversy 
with  Pennsylvania,  her  settlers  were  actually  in  possession  under 
valid  t itles,  and  I he  final  settlement  was  reached  through  blood-slied 
and  fierce  litigation. 

Ex-Governor  Hoyt  of  Pennsylvania  has  given  us  in  his  “ Syllabus 
of  the  Controversy  between  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania,’’  pub- 
lished by  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  a complete  and 
exhaustive  discussion  of  the  entire  case,  the  details  of  which  can 
be  but  briefly  alluded  to. 

Upon  19  March,  1631,  the  Council  at  Plymouth  by  its  President, 
the  Earl  of  Warwick,  under  the  grant  of  3 November,  162<>,  here- 
tofore quoted,  conveyed  to  Lord  Say  and  Seal  and  others,  by  Heed, 
“ All  that  part  of  New  England  in  America,  which  lies  and  extends 
itself  from  a river  there  called  Narragansett  River,  the  space  of 
forty  leagues  upon  a straight  line  near  the  shore,  towards  the  south- 
west, west,  and  by  south  or  west,  as  the  coast  lieth,  towards 
Virginia,  accounting  three  English  miles  to  the  league*,  and  also 
all  and  singular  the  lands  and  hereditaments  whatsoever  lying 
and  being  within  the  lands  aforesaid,  north  and  south,  in  latitude 
and  breadth,  and  in  length  and  longitude  of  and  within  all  the 
breadth  aforesaid,  throughout  the  main  lands  there,  from  the 
Western  Ocean  to  the  South  Sea.” 

The  grantees  took  immediate  measures  for  possession,  and 
appointed  as  their  agent  John  Winthrop,  who  founded  the  town  of 
Say  brook.  Winthrop  and  a number  of  other  English  Colonists  on 
the  Connecticut  River,  south  of  the  limits  of  the  Massachusetts 
Patent,  organized  themselves  into  an  association  by  the  name  of 
“ Colony  of  Connecticut,”  bought  out  the  grant  of  Lord  Say  and 
Seal  and  his  associates,  and  in  1661,  petitioned  King  Charles  II  for  a 
Charter. 

In  1662,  23  April,  King  Charles  granted  to  John  Winthrop  and 
others  the  Charter,  incorporating  as  a body  politic  “ The  Governor 
and  Company  of  the  English  Colony  of  Connecticut,  in  New  Eng- 
land, in  America,”  and  granting  and  confirming  to  them  “all  that 
part  of  our  dominions  in  New-England  in  America,  bounded  on  the 
East  by  the  Narrogancevt  River,  commonly  called  Narrogancett  Bay, 
where  the  said  river  falleth  into  the  sea,  and  on  the  North  by  the 
line  of  the  Massachusetts  plantation,  and  on  the  South  by  the  sea, 
and  in  longitude,  as  the  line  of  the  Massachusetts  colony  running 
from  East  to  West,  (that  is  to  say)  from  the  said  Narrogancett  Bay, 
on  the  East,  to  the  South  Sea,  on  the  West  part,  with  the  islands 
thereunto  adjoining,  together  with  all  the  firm  lands,  soils,  grounds, 
havens,  pons,  rivers,  waters,  fishings,  mines,  minerals,  precious 
stones,  quarries,  and  all  and  singular  commodities,  jurisdictions, 
royalties,  privileges,  franchises,  preeminences,  and  hereditaments 
whatsoever.” 


419 


No.  71.] 

This  was  a new  and  independent  grant.  It  did  not,  as  in  the 
original  grant  to  the  Plymouth  Council,  except  any  part  “ actually 
possessed  by  any  Christian  Prince  or  State.”  It  apparently  con- 
veyed the  lands  between  the  Massachusetts  Colony  on  the  North  at 
Latitude  42°  02',  and  a parallel  drawn  from  a point  on  the  coast  40 
leagues  from  the  Narragansett,  which  was  concluded  to  be  in  Lati- 
tude 41,  extending  without  reserve  to  the  Western  ocean.  The 
Dutch  held  and  occupied  the  Hudson  River  Country,  although 
their  claim  was  not  acknowledged  as  valid  by  the  English. 

In  1664,  the  Dutch  still  in  possession,  Charles  made  his  grant  to 
the  Duke  of  York,  of  land,  which,  if  the  previous  Dutch  title  were 
not  to  be  considered  valid,  he  had  already  conveyed  to  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut.  The  Duke  of  York  took  possession,  the  Dutch 
yielding  without  resistance.  In  1682,  twenty  years  after  his  grant 
to  Connecticut,  King  Charles  granted  the  Charter  to  William  Penn, 
which  also  covered,  for  a distance  of  5 degrees  of  longitude,  nearly 
the  entire  width  of  the  territory  already  conveyed  to  Winthrop  and 
his  associates. 

In  1670,  an  attempt  at  possession  was  made  by  Winthrop  upon 
the  Delaware  by  building  a fort,  which  he  afterward  abandoned,  not 
being  able  to  hold  it  against  the  Indians.  But  for  seventy  years 
after  the  grant  to  Penn  this  wilderness  was  left  unoccupied  by  both 
parties. 

Early  in  1753  the  following  petition  was  presented  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  Connecticut. 

To  the  Honorable  Assembly , to  be  hoi  den  at  Hartford , second 
Thursday  of  May  next , the  memorial  of  the  subscribers , inhabitants 
of  Farmington , Windham , Canterbury , Plainfield , Voluntown , 
and  in  several  other  towns , all  of  Connecticut  Colony , humbly 
showeth  ; 

u That  whereas , There  is  a large  quantity  of  land  lying  upon  a 
river  called  Susquehanna,  and  also  at  a place  called  Quiwanmick, 
and  that  there  is  no  English  inhabitants  that  lives  on  said  land,  nor 
near  thereunto,  and  the  same  lies  about  seventy  miles  west  of 
Dielewey  River,  and,  as  we  suppose,  within  the  charter  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  and  that  there  is  a number  of  Indians  that 
live  on  or  near  the  place  of  land  aforesaid,  who  lay  claim  to  the 
same,  and  we,  the  subscribers,  to  the  number  of  One  hundred  per- 
sons, who  are  very  desirous  to  go  and  inhabit  the  aforesaid  land, 
and  at  the  place  aforesaid,  provided  that  we  can  obtain  a quiet  or 
quit-Claim  of  the  Honorable  Assembly,  of  a tract  of  land  lying  at 
the  place  aforesaid,  and  to  contain  a quantity  of  sixteen  miles  square, 
to  lie  on  both  sides  Susquehanna  River,  and  as  the  Indians  lay  claim 
to  the  same,  we  propose  to  purchase  of  them  their  right,  so  as  to  be 
at  peace  with  them;  whereupon  we  humbly  pray,  that  the  Honor- 
able Assembly  would  grant  to  us  a quit-Claim  of  the  aforesaid  tract, 
or  so  much  as  the  Honorable  Assembly  shall  think  best,  upon  such 
terms  as  your  Honors  shall  think  reasonable,  and  in  such  a way 
and  manner,  that  in  case  we  cannot  hold  and  enjoy  the  same  by 


420 


[Senate 


virtue  of  said  grant,  yet  notwithstanding  the  same  not  to  be  hurt- 
ful or  prejudicial  on  any  account  to  this  Colony,  and  in  case  we  can 
Hold  and  possess  said  land,  then  to  be  always  under  the  government, 
and  subject  to  the  laws  and  discipline  of  this  Colony,  and  provided  that 
we,  the  said  subscribers,  shall  within  three  years  next  coming  lay  the 
same  out  in  equal  proportion,  and  settle  upon  the  same,  as  also  pur- 
chase the  right  of  the  .Natives  as  aforesaid,  or  in  some  other  way 
grant  us  the  land  aforesaid,  as  your  Honors  shall  think  best,  as  we, 
in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray.” 

In  that  year  also,  “ The  Susquehanna  Company”  was  organized 
by  several  hundred  Connecticut  people,  for  the  purpose  of  establish- 
ing a new  Colony  within  the  Charter  limits  west  of  the  Delaware 
River.  The  extinguishment  of  the  Indian  title  was  the  first  pre- 
liminary in  this  movement,  and  as  an  attempt  at  this,  a treaty  was 
made  with  eighteen  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations  who  1 1 July  1754,  at 
Albany  for  the  sum  of  two  thousand  pounds,  conveyed  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Susquehanna  Company  (the  number  of  grantees  was  1388) 
a tract  of  land  described  thus : — “ Beginning  from  the  one  and  for- 
tieth degree  of  North  Latitude,  at  ten  miles  distance  east  of  Susque- 
hanna river,  and  from  thence,  with  a northerly  line,  ten  miles  east 
of  the  river,  to  the  forty-second  or  beginning  of  the  forty-third  degree 
of  north  latitude,  and  to  extend  west  two  degrees  of  longitude,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  from  thence  south  to  the  beginning 
of  the  forty -second  degree,  and  from  thence  east  to  the  aforemen- 
* tioned  bounds,  which  is  ten  miles  east  of  the  Susquehanna  river.” 

This  was  probably  the  purchase  made  by  John  Lydius,  for  which 
Governor  Morris  wished  him  prosecuted  by  the  New  York  Council.* 
And  in  May  the  following  year,  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut  upon 
the  petition  of  the  Susquehanna  Company,  passed  an  Act  in  which, 
after  reciting  that  the  lands  were  within  the  Charter  limits,  it  was 
resolved,  “ that  they  are  of  opinion  that  the  peaceably  and  orderly 
erecting  and  carrying  on  some  new  and  'well-regulated  colony  or 
plantation  on  the  lands  abovementioned  would  greatly  tend  to  fix 
and  secure  said  Indian  nations  in  allegiance  to  his  Majesty,  and  ac- 
cordingly hereby  manifest  their  ready  acquiescence  therein,  if  it 
should  be  his  majesty’s  royal  pleasure  to  grant  said  land  to  said 
petitioners,  and  thereon  erect  and  settle  a new  colony,  in  such  form 

as  might  be  consistent  with  his  Royal  wisdom, 

and  also  take  leave  humbly  to  recommend  the  said  petitioners  to  his 
Royal  favors  in  the  premises.” 

This  grant  covered  an  extent  of  country  along  the  present  Bound- 
ary, from  near  Milestone  47  nearly  to  milestone  167,  in  the  Tuna 
Yalley.  The  King  did  not  act  favorably  upon  the  application  for  a 
Charter.  The  Delaware  Company  purchased  the  portion  lying  be- 
tween this  and  the  Delaware  River. 

Five  days  before  the  date  of  the  Indian  Deed  to  the  Susquehanna 
Company,  the  Penns  also  took  a Deed  from  thirty  chiefs  of  the  Six 
Nations,  covering,  however,  land  entirely  south  of  the  parallel  of  42 


* See  page  54. 


No.  71.] 


421 


degrees.  But  three  days  thereafter,  and  two  days  before  the  date  of 
the  deed  to  the  Susquehanna  Company,  the  Penns  for  the  sum  of  five 
shillings,  obtained  a stipulation  from  eight  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations, 
u That  neither  we  nor  any  by  our  authority  shall  sell,  grant  or  convey 
to  any  other  than  the  said  Proprieters  any  lands  within  the  limits  of 
the  said  Province.”  This  was  endorsed  on  a deed  made  in  1736  by 
twenty  three  chiefs  which  contained  a similar  stipulation,  as  follows  : 
“ We  do  hereby  promise  and  engage,  for  our  children  and  their  chil- 
dren, that  neither  we  nor  they will  sell  or  grant  to  any 

person,  other  than  to  the  said  proprietors,  the  children  of  William 
Penn, any  lands  within  the  limits  of  the  gov- 

ernment of  Pennsylvania,  as  ’tis  bounded  northward  with  the  gov- 
ernment of  New  York  and  Albany.” 

The  Penns  purchased  the  Indian  title  to  the  lands  covering  tbe 
southeastern  portion  of  the  Grant  to  the  {Susquehanna  Company  in 
1768;  and  the  remainder,  west  of  the  Susquehanna  and  north  of 
Towanda,  was  purchased  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1784. 

Meanwhile  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna  Companies,  in  1755, 
sent  out  Surveyors  to  lay  out  the  lands,  and  much  of  the  territory 
was  marked  olf  into  Townships  five  miles  square.  Five  of  these 
townships  were  in  the  northwest  corner,  within  the  present  limits  of 
McKean  County.  A settlement  was  made  upon  the  Delaware.  The 
Pennsvlvania  Proprietaries  had  already  made  surveys  in  this  section. 
In  1768  the  Susquehanna  Company  resolved  “ that  five  townships, 
five  miles  square,  should  be  surveyed  and  granted,  each  to  forty  set- 
tlers, being  proprietors,  on  condition  that  those  settlers  should  re- 
main upon  the  ground  ; man  their  rights  ; and  defend  themselves, 
and  each  other,  from  the  intrusion  of  all  rival  claimants.”  Five 
townships  in  the  Wyoming  Valley  were  assigned  to  the  first  settlers 
under  this  provision.  They  were  a bold  and  hardy  race,  some  of 
whom  had  seen  service  in  the  French  War.  A stockade  called  Forty 
Fort  was  built  near  Kingston.  Up  to  this  time,  no  Pennsylvania 
settlers  had  taken  up  any  lands  in  this  valley.  Early  the  next  year 
the  Penns  made  a move  in  this  direction,  and  the  lamentable  contest 
known  as  the  “ Pennamite  W ar  ” commenced.  It  was  waged  with 
varying  success  between  the  Connecticut  settlers  and  the  lessees  of 
the  Penns;  blood  was  shed  and  several  lives  were  sacrificed.  The 
Proprietaries  had  made  no  grants,  simply  leasing  land  which  they 
had  taken  up  themselves  ; and  having  appropriated  to  their  own  use 
the  best  land  in  the  valley,  the  sympathies  of  the  people  of  the 
Province  were  with  the  actual  settlers.  Pennsylvania,  in  1771, 
thinking  from  the  persistence  of  the  intruders,  that  they  were  sus- 
tained by  the  Government  of  Connecticut,  withdrew  her  troops  and 
left  the  Yankees  in  quiet  possession. 

Governor  Hamilton  wrote  Governor  Trumbull  of  Connecticut, 
asking  under  whose  authority  u these  violent  and  hostile  measures  ” 
were  prosecuted,  and  Trumbull  answered  14  October,  1771 : — “ The 


422 


[Senate 


persons  concerned  in  those  transactions  have  no  order  or  direction 
from  me,  or  from  the  General  Assembly  of  the  colony,  for  their 
proceeding  upon  this  occasion,  and  I am  very  confident  that  the 
General  Assembly,  friends  as  they  have  ever  been  to  peace  and  good 
order,  will  never  countenance  any  violent,  much  less  hostile,  meas- 
ures in  vindicating  the  rights  which  the  Susquehanna  Company  sup- 
pose they  have  to  lands  in  that  part  of  the  country  within  the  limits 
of  the  charter  of  this  colony.” 

Governor  Hoyt  in  commenting  upon  this  says,  “ Connecticut  had 
not  yet  asserted  its  title  to  this  country.  The  inhabitants  of 
Wyoming  established  a government  for  themselves.  They  laid 
out  townships,  formed  settlements,  erected  fortifications,  levied 
and  collected  taxes,  passed  laws  for  the  direction  of  civil 
suits,  and  for  the  punishment  of  crimes,  established  a militia, 
and  provided  for  the  common  defense  and  general  welfare  of  the 
plantation.  ‘ Neither  the  Grecian  nor  Roman  States,  in  their  proudest 
days  of  republicanism,  could  boast  of  a government  more  purely  dem- 
ocratic than  was  now  established  at  Wyoming/  ” 

For  two  years  every  thing  was  quiet  and  prosperous.  The  settlers 
appeared  to  have  secured  a firm  footing.  In  October,  1773,  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  Connecticut,  “ Resolved , That  this  Assembly,  at 
this  time,  will  assert  and,  in  some  proper  way,  support  their  claim 
to  those  lands  contained  wfithin  the  limits  and  boundaries  of  their 
charter,  which  are  westward  of  the  Province  of  New  York.” 

Commissioners  went  to  Philadelphia  to  negotiate,  but  the  result 
was  a failure.  In  January,  1774,  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut 
erected  u all  the  territory  within  her  charter  limits,  from  the  river 
Delaware  to  a line  fifteen  miles  west  of  the  Susquehanna,  into  a 
town,  with  all  the  corporate  power  of  other  towns  in  the  colony,  to 
be  called  Westmoreland attaching  it  to  the  County  of  Litchfield.” 
Pennsylvania  troops  in  December,  1775,  advanced  up  the  river  to 
drive  the  Connecticut  settlers  from  Wyoming;  the  settlers  repulsed 
them  with  some  loss  of  life  on  both  sides.  Congress  here  interfered 
and  “ Resolved,  ......  that  the 

contending  parties  immediately  cease  all  hostilities  and  avoid  any 
appearance  of  force,  until  the  dispute  can  be  legally  settled.” 

“ In  November,  177b,  the  town  of  Westmoreland  was  erected  into 
a County  of  Connecticut,  to  be  called  Westmoreland,  and  thereupon 
its  civil  and  military  organization  was  complete. 

“ Three  companies  of  troops  were  raised  therefor  the  Continental 
establishment,  and  were  part  of  the  Twenty-fourth  regiment  of  the 
Connecticut  line.” 

“ From  this  time  a complete  civil  and  military  establishment  took 
place  and  continued  until  the  decree  of  Trenton,  in  December,  1782. 
That  the  troops  raised  in  this  territory  were  part  of  the  Connecticut 
line,  and  as  such  recognized  by  Congress.  That  the  whole  settlement 
stood  then  as  a guard  and  protection  of  the  frontier.  Representa- 
tives attended  the  Legislature.  Courts  were  constituted  and  tried 


No.  71.] 


423 


all  causes,  real  and  personal  civil  and  criminal,  and  carried  their 
judgments  into  effect.  Executions  wore  extended  upon  land.  Judges 
of  Probate  held  cog  lizance  of  testamentary  matters.  Records  were 
regularly  kept.  Offenders  against  the  laws  of  Connecticut  were  in- 
dicted, tried,  convicted,  and  punished.  All  grades  of  officers,  civil 
and  military,  were  appointed,  and  exercised  the  various  functions  of 
their  offices. 

“That  all  these  incidents  gave  the  actual  settlers  ‘color  of  title  ’ : 
whether  that  title  was  otherwise  perfect  or  not,  they  were  actual  set- 
tlers and  improvers.  That  per  contra , the  Pennsylvania  claimants 
were  not  there  as  bona  fide  settlers  and  improvers,  but  as  a posse,  or 
in  military  capacity.  It  is  not  believed  that  the  Proprietaries  created 
any  bona  fide  titles  to  individuals  here  before  1771.  There  may 
have  been  holders  of  these  titles,  improvers,  but  if  so,  they  lived  in 
a Connecticut  community,  and  had  been  governed  by  Connecticut 
law,  under  Connecticut  jurisdiction.”* 

Pennsylvania  warrant  surveys  covered  those  made  by  the  Connec- 
ticut surveyors  with  a new  series  of  lines. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  Pennsylvania  brought  the  question 
promptly  before  Congress  asking  it  to  appoint  Commissioners  “ to 
constitute  a court  for  hearing  and  determining  the  matter  in  ques- 
tion, agreeably  to  the  ninth  article  of  the  confederation.”  Connec- 
ticut asked  for  delay,  but  this  was  overruled  by  Congress  which,  28 
August,  1782,  appointed  William  Whipple,  of  New  Hampshire, 
Welcome  Arnold,  of  Rhode  Island,  David  Brearly  and  William 
Churchill  Houston,  of  New  Jersey,  Cyrus  Griffin,  Joseph  Jones, 
and  Thomas  Nelson,  of  Virginia,  Commissioners  “ to  meet  at 
Trenton,  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  on  Tuesday,  the  12th  day  of 
November  next,  to  hear  and  finally  determine  the  controversy 
between  the  said  State  of  Pennsylvania  and  State  of  Connecticut, 
so  always  as  a major  part  of  said  commissioners,  who  shall  hear  the 
cause,  shall  agree  in  the  determination.” 

The  court  met  and  organized  19  November,  1782.  Both  states 
were  represented  by  eminent  Counsel.  For  forty -one  days  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Court  sat.  Charters,  statements,  and  briefs  were  sub- 
mitted, arguments  were  made,  and  testimony  of  all  kinds  produced, 
and  30  December,  they  decided,  “We  are  unanimously  of  opinion 
that  the  State  of  Connecticut  has  no  right  to  the  lands  in  contro- 
versy. 

“ We  are  also  unanimously  of  opinion  that  the  jurisdiction  and 
pre-emption  of  all  the  territory  lying  within  the  charter  boundary  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  now  claimed  by  the  State  of  Connecticut,  do  of 
right  belong  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.” 

Connecticut  tackly  acquiesced  in  this  decree  which  was  conclusive 
between  the  States  who  were  parties,  but  did  not  affect  the  private 
rights  of  property,  as  the  record  shows,  and  as  is  also  set  forth  more 
decidedly  in  a letter  addressed  31  December,  to  the  President  of 


* Hoyt,  pp.  24,  26,  28. 


424 


[Senate 


Pennsylvania  by  four  members  of  the  Court,  in  which  they  say,  “ In 
the  course  of  executing  this  commission,  we  have  found  that  many 
persons  are,  or  lately  have  been,  settled  on  the  lands  in  question.  Their 
individual  claims  could,  in  no  instance,  come  before  us,  not  being  in 
the  line  of  our  appointment.  We  beg  leave  to  declare  to  your  Ex- 
cellency, that  we  think  the  situation  of-  these  people  well  deserves 
the  notice  of  government.  The  dispute  has  long  subsisted.  Tt  may 
have  produced  heats  and  animosities  among  those  living  on  or  near 
the  country  in  contest,  and  some  imprudences  may  take  place,  and 
draw  after  them  the  most  unfavorable  consequences. 

“With  all  deference,  therefore,  we  would  suggest  to  your  Excel- 
lency and  council,  whether  it  would  not  be  best  to  adopt  some  rea- 
sonable measures  to  prevent  any,  the  least,  disorder  or  misunder- 
standing among  them,  and  to  continue  things  in  the  present  peace- 
able posture  until  proper  steps  can  be  taken  to  decide  the  contro- 
versy respecting  the  private  right  of  soil  in  the  mode  prescribed  by 
the  confederation.” 

This  was  concurred  in,  afterward,  by  another  member  of  the 
Court  who  wrote,  u But  I can  assure  you,  sir,  that  the  Commission- 
ers were  unanimously  of  opinion  that  the  private  right  of  soil 
should  not  be  alfected  by  the  decision.  The  decision  was  not  to 
reach  the  question  of  property  in  the  soil. 

“ We  recommend  very  strongly,  derived  from  legal  and  political 
grounds,  that  the  settlers  should  be  quieted  in  all  their  claims,  by  an 
act  of  the  Pennsylvania  Assembly ; and  that  the  right  of  soil,  if  I 
recollect  truly,  as  derived  from  Connecticut,  should  be  held  sacred. 
Such,  however,  I am  certain,  was  the  opinion  of  the  individuals  who 
composed  that  Court.” 

An  attempt  was  made  after  this  decree,  for  the  determination 
under  Congress  of  the  private  right  of  soil  upon  the  application  of 
Connecticut  settlers.  Technicalities  caused  delay  and  the  adoption 
of  the  Constitution  removed  the  jurisdiction  from  special  courts  of 
Commissioners  to  the  Courts.  The  settlers  accepted  the  situation 
and  became  citizens  of  Pennsylvania,  but  would  listen  to  no  terms 
which  would  involve  “abandonment  of  their  possessions.” 

The  Connecticut  settlers  numbered  about  six  thousand.  They 
were  included  mainly  in  seventeen  townships  stretching  along  the 
Susquehanna  in  the  present  counties  of  Luzerne,  Lackawanna, 
Wyoming,  and  Bradford.  The  most  northerly  township  was 
Athens,  which  was  adjacent  to  the  present  State  Boundary.  The 
settlers  petitioned  the  State  Legislature  to  take  their  case  into  con- 
sideration and  grant  a “ general  act  of  oblivion  and  indemnity,” 
and  confirm  judicial  proceedings  held  under  authority  of  Connecti- 
cut. 

The  Assembly  resolved  to  appoint  Commissioners  “ to  make  full 
inquiries  into  the  cases  ”,  and  13  March,  17^3,  passed  a stay  law, 
pending  the  investigation. 

These  Commissioners  were  inclined  to  take  the  extreme  Pennsyl- 


No.  71.] 


425 


vania  view  of  the  case.  They  reported  in  August,  1783,  recom- 
mending “ to  the  families  of  those  who  had  fallen  in  arms  against 
the  common  enemy,  reasonable  compensation  in  land  in  western 
Pennsylvania,  and  to  the  other  holders  of  Connecticut  titles  who 
‘did  actually  reside  on  the  land  at  the  time  of  the  decree  at  Trenton, 
provided  they  delivered  possession  by  the  1st  day  of  April  follow- 
ing.’ ” 

The  stay  law  was  repealed ; troops  were  stationed  among  the  set- 
tlers ; arrests  and  counter-arrests  were  made  ; settlers  were  dispos- 
sessed and  their  buildings  and  crops  destroyed ; and  the  “ Second 
Pennamite  War  ” was  in  full  progress.  The  sympathies  of  the  peo- 
ple were  still  with  the  oppressed  settlers. 

The  Council  of  Censors  took  up  the  case.  Their  duty  was  “ to 
inquire  whether  the  Constitution  has  been  preserved  inviolate  in 
every  part,  and  whether  the  legislative  and  executive  branches  of 
government  have  performed  their  duty  as  guardians  of  the  people, 
or  assumed  to  themselves,  or  exercised,  other  or  greater  powers  than 
they  are  entitled  to  by  the  Constitution.” 

Upon  11  September,  1784,  they  solemnly  denounced  the  measures 
instituted  by  the  Executive  Council  against  the  settlers  and  in  con- 
clusion said.  “ In  short,  we  lament  that  our  Government  has,  in  this 
business,  manifested  little  wisdom  or  foresight,  nor  have  acted  as 
the  guardians  of  the  rights  of  the  people  committed  to  their  care. 
Impressed  with  the  multiplied  evils  which  have  sprung  from  the 
improvident  management  of  this  business,  we  hold  it  up  to  censure, 
to  prevent,  if  possible,  any  farther  instances  of  bad  government, 
which  might  involve  and  distract  our  new-formed  nation.”  The 
Executive  Council  still  kept  on.  The  militia  were  ordered  out  but 
refused  to  march.  A posse  went  on  to  dispossess  those  who  had  re- 
occupied their  farms.  Upon  15  September,  1784  the  Assembly 
passed  an  “Act  for  the  more  speedy  restoring  the  possession  of 
certain  messuages,  lands,  and  tenements  in  Northumberland  county, 
to  the  persons  who  lately  held  the  same.”  The  troops  or  “ posses  ” 
were  recalled  and  “ thus  ended  the  last  expedition  fitted  out  by  the 
government  of  Pennsylvania  to  operate  against  her  own  peaceful 
citizens.” 


In  1785,  the  Susquehanna  Company  took  up  the  case,  and  while 
Pennsylvania  was  preparing  to  do  justice  to  the  settlers,  the  Com- 
pany was  pushing  a scheme  of  Revolution.  This  brings  us  to  1786, 
when  Ethan  Allen,  fresh  from  Vermont’s  victory  in  her  contest 
with  New  York,  was  brought  by  the  Company  into  the  scheme, 
which  was  to  erect  the  Connecticut  claim  into  a separate  state.  And 
now  the  contest  seemed  to  be  between  the  settlers,  who  had  had 
enough  of  trouble,  and  the  “wild  Yankees,”  as  the  revolutionists 
were  called. 

A petition  was  sent  by  the  settlers  to  the  Legislature  praying  that 
the  seventeen  Townships  located  by  the  Connecticut  settlers  before 
the  decree  ot  Trenton,  might  be  confirmed  to  them  and  27  March, 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.J  54 


m 


[Senate 


1787,  an  “Act  for  ascertaining  and  confirming  to  certain  persons, 
called  Connecticut  Claimants,  the  lands  by  them  claimed  within  the 
County  of  Luzerne,  and  for  other  purposes  therein  mentioned,”  was 
passed. 

After  a preamble  setting  forth  the  case,  it  enacted,  “ That  all  the 
said  rights  or  lots  now  lying  within  the  county  of  Luzerne  which  were 
occupied  or  acquired  by  Connecticut  claimants  who  were  actually 
settlers  there,  at  or  before  the  termination  of  the  claims  of  the  State 
of  Connecticut  by  the  decree  aforesaid  ” [the  decree  of  Trenton] 
“and  which  rights  or  lots  were  particularly  assigned  to  the  said  set- 
tlers prior  to  the  said  decree,  agreeably  to  the  regulations  then  in 
force  among  them,  be  and  they  are  hereby  confirmed  to  them  and 
their  heirs  and  assigns,”  and  provided  the  manner  in  which  Penn- 
sylvania claimants  to  the  same  lands  might  be  compensated. 

In  a General  Assembly  of  the  settlers  after  fierce  discussion  the 
“ Confirming  Law  ” was  accepted.  The  acceptance  killed  the  project 
for  a new  state.  Trouble  still  continued.  The  new  law  proved  a 
failure  in  execution.  The  law  was  repealed  and  although  the  re- 
pealing law  put  the  Pennsylvania  claimants  in  possession  it  prac- 
tically recognized  the  rights  of  the  Connecticut  settlers. 

In  1799,  4 April,  an  k‘  Act  for  offering  compensation  to  the  Penn- 
sylvania claimants  of  certain  lands  within  the  seventeen  townships,* * 
in  the  county  of  Luzerne,  and  for  other  purposes  therein  mentioned,” 
was  passed  which  designated  commissioners  to  proceed  with  the  in- 
vestigation of  the  matter;  provided  for  the  Pennsylvania  claimants 
within  the  seventeen  townships  who  were  to  release  their  lands  to 
the  Commonwealth,  and  for  perfecting  the  title  of  the  Connecticut 
settlers  under  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania.  The  claimants  refused  or 
neglected  to  execute  the  releases  under  the  act;  the  settlers  at  first, 
with  previous  failures  to  obtain  redress  by  law  fresh  in  their  minds, 
were  not  inclined  to  accept  this  law.  The  act  of  6 April,  1802  rem- 
edied this  and  provided  for  a jury  to  award  compensation  to  the 
Pennsylvania  claimants  who  failed  to  release  ; and  the  act  of  4 April 
authenticated  the  “Westmoreland  Records.”  In  1808  the  powers 
of  the  Commissioners  were  suspended  and  the  case  between  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Connecticut  settlers  of  the  Seventeen 
townships  came  to  an  end. 

Outside  the  seventeen  townships,  the  case  was  different.  An  In- 
trusion Act  was  passed  11  March,  1800,  and  another  16  Feb.,  1801; 
and  6 April,  1802,  an  act  was  passed  “to  maintain  the  territorial 
rights  of  this  State,  and  protect  the  property  of  persons  holding  lands 

^Although  the  number  of  certified  Townships  is  geneially  given  as  17,  an 
eighteenth,  Athens,  was  apparently  included  in  the  confirmation  to  the  settlers. 

*This  Township  was  laid  out  five  miles  square,  May  7,  1786,  by  John  Jenkins. 
“ Beginning  at  stake  marked,  standing  on  the  north  line  of  the  Susq°  Purchase 
one  mile  west  of  Tioga  Branch.  Thence  East  on  said  line  crossing  both  Branches 
of  the  Susquehanna  5 miles  to  a Pine  tree  marked,”  etc.  The  north  line  on  the 
Map  is  marked  “ Adjoining  the  State  Line.”  This  was  undoubtedly  Maclay’s 
“temporary  lme,”  about  half  a mile  south  of  the  State  Line  as  officially  located 
soon  after.  (See  page  75.) 


No.  71.] 


427 


under  the  same.”  The  act  excepted  the  lands  of  claimants  who 
had  taken  advantage  of  the  Compromise  Act  of  17*19.  In  a litigated 
case,  the  court  expressed  it,  “ the  manifest  object  of  this  act  appears 
to  have  been  to  continue  the  kindness  which  had  been  extended 
to  the  seventeen  townships,  but  to  cut  up  by  the  roots  the  title  of 
Connecticut  in  all  other  parts.” 

In  the  general  discussion  among  the  states  near  the  close  of  the 
Revolution  as  to  the  disposition  of  the  unlimited  tracts  of  lands 
covered  by  the  Royal  Charters,  New  York  had  early  ceded  her  right 
to  all  such  land  west  of  the  present  Meridian  Boundary  of  New 
YTork.  The  Connecticut  Legislature,  with  the  Pennsylvania  contest 
still  upon  her  hands,  upon  12  October,  17S0,  prior  to  the  decree  of 
Trenton,  passed  an  Act  of  Cession  authorizing  their  delegates  in 
Congress  to  convey  to  the  United  States,  “their  Right  or  preemp- 
tion of  Soil  in  or  to  so  much  of  the  vacant  and  unappropriated  Lands 
Claimed  by  this  State  contained  and  comprehended  within  the  ex- 
tent and  Limits  of  their  Charter  and  Grant  from  King  Charles  the 
second,  and  which  lies  and  extends  within  the  Limits  of  the  same 
Westward  of  the  Susquehannah  Purchase  so  called  and  Eastward  of 
the  River  Misisiph,  as  shall  be  in  just  proportion  of  what  shall  be 
Ceded  and  relinquished  by  other  States.” 

This  offer  of  Connecticut  was  so  conditional  that  Congress,  in- 
fluenced in  a measure  by  the  opposition  of  the  delegates  from 
Pennsylvania  refused  to  accept  it,  and  upon  29  April,  17S4,  presented 
the  subject  again  to  the  states,  which  still  held  claims  to  we?tern 
territory.  Connecticut  in  1786  passed  a new  act  of  cession  in  pur- 
suance of  which  her  delegates  executed  14  September  in  that  year 
a deed  granting  to  the  United  States  “all  the  right,  title,  interest, 
jurisdiction,  and  claim  to  certain  western  lands,  beginning  at  the 
completion  of  the  forty-first  degree  of  north  latitude,  one  hundred 
and  twenty  miles  west  of  the  western  boundary  line  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania,  as  now  claimed  by  the  said  Commonwealth 
and  from  thence  by  a line  drawn  north  parallel  to,  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  miles  west  of  said  west  line  of  Pennsylvania,  and  to 
continue  north  until  it  comes  to  forty-two  degrees  and  two  minutes 
of  north  latitude,”  which  was  accep'ed  by  Congress,  14  Sept.,  1786 
“ to  be  recorded  and  enrolled  among  the  acts  of  the  United  States 
in  Congress  assembled.”  This  seemed  to  be  a virtual  recognition  of 
the  validity  of  the  Connecticut  Charter  by  the  United  States. 

That  General  Washington  did  not  look  favorably  upon  this  com- 
promise with  Connecticut  is  evinced  by  the  following  extract  from 
a letter  to  a member  of  Congress,  26  July,  1786  : — 

“For  want,  1 suppose,  of  a competent  knowledge  of  the  Connecti- 
cut claim  to  western  territory,  the  compromise  which  is  made  with 
her  appears  to  me  to  be  a disadvantageous  one  for  the  Union,  and, 
if  her  right  is  not  one  of  the  motives  (according  to  your  account) 
for  yielding  to  it,  in  my  humble  opinion,  is  exceedingly  dangerous 
and  bad.” 


428 


[Senate 


The  settlers  upon  the  “Western  Reserve,”  as  the  tract  of  120 
miles  retained  by  Connecticut  was  called,  found  that  the  jurisdiction 
of  Connecticut  could  not  be  extended  over  them  without  great 
inconvenience,  and  that  they  could  not  submit  to  the  territorial 
government  established  in  the  North  Western  Territory,  without 
endangering  their  titles,  applied  to  the  Legislature  of  Connecticut 
to  cede  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Reserve  to  the  United  States,  and  the 
Legislature  of  that  state  in  October,  1797,  passed  an  “Act  authoriz- 
ing the  Senators  of  the  said  State  in  Congress  to  execute  a deed  of 
release  in  behalf  of  said  State  to  the  United  States  of  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  said  territory.” 

By  an  act  passed  28  April,  1800  accepting  the  Deed  of  Cession 
and  directing  the  President  to  execute  letters  patent  to  confirm  the 
title  of  the  soil  to  the  settlers,  “ Provided  however , That  such  let- 
ters patent  shall  not  be  executed  and  delivered,  unless  the  State  of 
Connecticut  shall  within  eight  months  from  passing  this  act,  by  a 
legislative  act,  renounce  forever,  lor  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 
United  States,  and  of  the  several  individual  states  who  may  be 
therein  concerned  respectively,  and  of  all  those  deriving  claims  or 
titles  from  them  or  any  of  them,  all  territorial  and  jurisdictional 
claims  whatever,  under  any  grant,  charter  or  charters  whatever,  to 
the  soil  and  jurisdiction  of  any  and  all  lands  whatever  lying  west- 
ward, northwestward,  and  southwestward  of  those  counties  in  the 
state  of  Connecticut,  which  are  bounded  westwardly  by  the  eastern 
line  of  the  state  of  New  York,  as  ascertained  by  agreement  between 
Connecticut  and  New  York,  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  thirty -three,  excepting  only  from  such  renunciation  the  claim  of 
the  said  State  of  Connecticut,  and  of  those  claiming  from  or  under 
the  said  State,  to  the  soil  of  said  tract  of  land  herein  described  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Western  Reserve  of  Connecticut.”* 

“ In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  act  of  Congress,  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  on  the  second  Thursday  of 
May,  1800,  passed  ‘ An  Act  renouncing  the  claims  of  this  State 
to  certain  lands  therein  mentioned 5 and  the  several  cessions  of  Western 
Lands,  initiated  by  New  York  in  1780,  were,  after  a lapse  of  twenty 
years  made  complete.” 

By  the  passage  of  this  act  Connecticut  formally  renounced  all  her 
claims  outside  of  her  present  Boundaries. 

Governor  Hoyt  concludes  his  discussion  of  this  controversy  thus, 
“ All  the  foregoing  discussion  converges  upon  two  propositions,  each 
somewhat  paradoxical : 

u 1.  In  the  forum  of  Law,  Connecticut,  wfith  a title  regular  on  its 
face,  failed  justly. 

“ 2.  In  the  forum  of  Equity,  4 the  Connecticut  settlers,’  without 
other  title  than  the  4 possessio  pedisj  prevailed  rightly.” 


*U.  S.  Statutes  at  Large,  ii,  56,  57. 


No.  71.] 


429 


III. 

The  Connecticut  Gore. 

Very  few  of  the  dwellers  along  the  Parallel  Boundary,  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  are  aware  that  the  title  to  a narrow  strip  along  that 
Line  was  involved  in  the  controversy  between  Connecticut  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  that  Connecticut,  after  having  abandoned  the  con- 
test with  Pennsylvania,  undertook  to  renew  it  with  New  York. 

The  south  line  of  the  territory  conveyed  by  the  charter  of  Massa- 
chusetts was  found  to  be  along  the  parallel  of  latitude  40°  02'  . 2* 
miles  north  of  the  forty-second  parallel,  the  north  line  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. By  the  Charter  of  Connecticut  granted  1662,  the  territory 
conveyed  was  hounded  “ on  the  north  by  the  line  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Colony  running  from  East  to  West  (that  is  to  say)  from  the  said 
Narrogansett  Bay  on  the  East,  to  the  South  Sea,  on  the  West  part.” 

Connecticut  confined  herself  in  her  contest  for  the  actual  posses- 
sion of  the  lands  covered  by  her  Charter,  west  of  the  Province  of 
New  l"ork,  to  that  portion  of  them  which  were  contained  within  the 
limits  of  the  territory  granted  to  William  Penn.  The  Indian  Deed 
to  the  Susquehanna  Company  conveyed  “ to  the  forty-second  or  be- 
ginning of  the  forty-third  degree  of  North  Latitude.”  Connecticut 
had  her  hands  full  with  a contest  with  New  York  over  the  Line  east 
of  the  Hudson,  and  evidently  did  not  care  to  complicate  it  by  setting 
up  claims  for  lands  which  might  possibly  be  claimed  by  New  York 
in  the  other  direction. 

The  controversy  went  on  in  Pennsylvania,  and  w^as  ended,  so  far 
as  the  State  of  Connecticut  was  concerned.  The  latter  State  had 
ceeded  her  western  lands,  beyond  the  Western  Reserve,  to  the  Uni- 
ted States,  and  by  her  acceptance  of  the  Decree  of  the  Trenton  Com- 
mission, she  abandoned  her  claim  to  lands  within  the  territory  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Considering  the  Delaware  River  as  the  western  limit  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  York,  as  it  was  evidently  construed  by  King  Charles  in 
his  grant  to  Penn,  and  as  admitted  by  Gov.  Tryon  in  his  Report  of 
1774,*  there  still  remained  to  Connecticut  the  nominal  title  to  a strip 
of  land  two  minutes  of  latitude  in  width,  extending  from  the  Dela- 
ware River  to  Lake  Erie,  to  which  she  had  never  laid  claim,  either 
by  actual  pre-emption  by  her  agents,  or  by  conveyance  to  other 
parties. 

In  the  controversy  between  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania,  upon 
the  question  whether  Connecticut  could  hold  beyond  the  province 
of  New  York  under  her  Charter,  eminent  Crown  lawyers  were  con- 

* The  Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations  made  an  elaborate  “ Representation  ” of 
the  condition  of  the  Colonies  in  detail,  to  the  King  (George  I)  8 Sept. , 1721  in 
which  the  Boundaries  of  each  province  are  given.  New  York  is  stated  as  being 
bounded  “ southwest  by  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  northwest  by  Delaware  river” 
and  they  were  careful  to  give  no  western  Boundary  to  Connecticut,  although  they 
bound  New  York  East  by  that  Colony.  (N.  Y.  Col.  Hist,  v,  GOO.) 


430 


[Senate 


suited.  The  Penns  submitted  their  case  to  the  Attorney  General, 
afterward  Lord  Camden,  whose  opinion  is  dated  7 March,  1761. 

“If  all  the  colonies  in  North  America  were  to  remain  at  this  day, 
bounded  in  point  of  right,  as  they  are  described  in  the  original 
grants  of  each,  I do  not  believe  there  is  one  settlement  in  that  part  of 
the  globe  that  has  not  in  some  measure  either  been  encroached  upon, 
or  else  usurped  upon  its  neighbours  : so  that  if  the  grants  were  them- 
selves the  only  rule  between  the  contending  plantations,  there  never 
could  be  an  end  of  their  disputes  without  unsettling  large  tracts  of 
land,  when  the  inhabitants  have  no  better  title  to  produce,  than 
either  possession,  or  posterior  grants,  which  in  point  of  law,  would  be 
superseded  by  prior  charters.  Hence  I conceive  that  many  other 
circumstances  must  be  taken  into  consideration,  besides  the  parch- 
ment boundary : tor  that  may  at  this  day  be  extended  or  narrowed 
by  possession,  acquiescence,  or  agreement ; by  the  situation  and  con- 
dition of  the  territory  at  the  time  of  the  grant,  as  well  as  by  various 
other  matters. 

“ With  respect  to  the  present  dispute,  the  western  boundary  of 
Connecticut  was  barred  at  the  time  of  the  original  grant  by  the 
Dutch  settlement : and  the  Crown  were  deceived  when  they  were 
called  upon  to  convey  a territory  which  belonged  to  another  State 
then  in  amity  with  the  Crown  of  England.  Besides  this  objection, 
the  settlement  of  the  new  boundary,  under  the  King’s  commission, 
in  1664,  and  what  is  still  stronger,  the  new  line  marked  out  by 
agreement  between  this  province  and  New  York,  has  now  precluded 
Connecticut  from  advancing  one  foot  beyond  these  limits. 

“I  am  of  the  opinion,  therefore,  that  the  Province  of 

Connecticut  has  no  right  to  resume  their  ancient  boundary  by  over- 
leaping the  Province  of  New  York : or  to  encroach  upon  the  Penn- 
sylvania grant,  which  was  not  made  until  after  the  Connecticut 
boundary  had  been  reduced  by  new  confines,  which  restored  the 
lands  beyond  those  settlements  westward,  to  the  Crown,  and  laid 
them  open  to  a new  grant.” 

The  Connecticut  case  was  submitted  to  Lord  Thurlow  and  other 
eminent  lawyers : — 


“ Question  11.  Have  not  the  said  Governor  and  Company  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  the  right  of  preemption  and  the  title  under 
the  Crown  to  the  lands  aforesaid,  within  the  limits  and  bounds  of 
their  patent  aforesaid,  lying  westward  of  the  Province  of  New  York, 
and  not  included  m the  charter  of  King  Charles  II  to  the  Duke  of 
York,  notwithstanding  the  several  settlements  of  boundaries  between 
the  colony  on  the  east  and  the  province  on  the  west,  made  as  well 
by  agreement  between  the  parties  as  under  the  royal  authority,  and 
notwithstanding  the  subsequent  charter  to  Sir  William  Penn  ? 

“ Answer . The  agreement  between  the  Colony  of  Connecticut 
and  the  Province  of  New  York  can  extend  no  further  than  to  settle 
the  boundaries  between  the  respective  parties,  and  has  no  effect 


No.  71.] 


431 


upon  other  claims  that  either  of  them  had  in  other  parts  : and  as  the 
charter  of  Connecticut  was  granted  but  eighteen  years  before  tha 
to  Sir  William  Penn,  there  is  no  ground  to  contend  that  the  Crown 
could,  at  that  period,  make  an  effectual  grant  to  him  of  that  coun- 
try, which  had  been  so  recently  granted  to  others.  But  if  the  country 
had  been  actually  settled  under  the  latter  grant,  it  would  now  be  a 
matter  of  considerable  doubt  whether  the  right  of  the  occupiers  or 
the  title  under  which  they  hold,  could  be  impeached  by  a prior  grant, 
without  actual  settlement.” 

While  in  the  Pennsylvania  matter  the  last  opinion  was  favorable 
to  the  Connecticut  claim,  in  the  New  York  matter  it  was  practically 
adverse  to  it.  Thus  Connecticut  in  accepting  this  opinion,  had  the 
unanimous  decision  of  counsel  against  her  in  advance. 

The  State  of  Connecticut  was  building  a State  House  in  Hartford. 
In  those  early  days  it  seems  to  have  been  as  much  of  an  elephant  on 
the  hands  of  the  Commonwealth,  as  the  new  Capitol  at  Albany  is 
held  to  be  by  some  of  the  present  generation.  Andrew  Ward  and 
Jeremiah  Ilahey  were  the  contractors.  And  inpayment  for  mate* 
rials  furnished  and  services  rendered,  Connecticut  hit  upon  the  haj.py 
expedient  of  laying  claim  to  this  almost  forgotten  strip  of  land,  and 
conveying  it  to  Ward  and  Halsey. 

Under  an  Act  of  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut  passed  the  second 
Tuesday  in  May,  1795,  Governor  Samuel  Huntington  executed  a 
deed  dated  25  July,  1795,  in  which  lie,  for  the  Commonwealth  quitj 
claimed  to  Andrew  Ward  and  Jeremiah  Halsey,  “said  land  situated 
and  lying  within  the  original  Charter  limits  of  this  State,  on  the 
north  of,  and  adjoining  upon  the  north  line  of  Pennsylvania  as  the 
same  is  now  claimed  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  and 
South  of  the  original  charter  line  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts, extending  from  the  northeast  corner  of  said  Commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  abutting  on  the  north  line  of  Pennsylvania  as 
aforesaid  westward,  until  it  comes  to  the  east  line  of  a tract  of  land 
sold  by  these  United  States  to  said  Commonwealth  of  said  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  bounded  northerly  on  south  line  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts  as  before  expressed.”  The  consideration  in  the  Deed 
was  forty  thousand  dollars. 

The  Colony  of  New.  York  had  assumed  jurisdiction  over  the  lands 
in  question  by  the  organization  of  Tryon  (afterward  Montgomery) 
County,  which  embraced  the  territory  of  the  Province  west  of  the 
Delaware  River,  in  1772,  more  than  twenty  years  before  the  date  at 
which  Connecticut  appeared  to  claim  it;  the  Colony  had  also  joined 
with  Pennsylvania  in  fixing  a starting  point  upon  a boundary  be- 
tween the  Provinces;  and  in  1786-7  their  successors,  the  States,  had 
together  run  the  south  line  of  New  York.  The  latter  State  had  al- 
ready entered  upon  the  entire  area  of  the  strip,  or  “Gore,”  and  with 
a few  inconsiderable  exceptions  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Broome 
County,  had  conveyed  it  away,  and  settlers  were  in  possession  at 
various  points.  Nearly  two-thirds  of  it  had  passed  into  the  hands 


432 


[Senate 


of  Massachusetts  and  had  been  further  transferred  to  other  parties. 
The  conditions  of  the  contest  between  Connecticut  and  Pennsyl- 
vania were  reversed. 

Ward  and  Halsey  organized  a company  called  the  ‘•'Connecticut 
Land  Company  ”,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  up  the  land  purchased 
by  them.  Claimants  under  the  Company  undertook  to  take  posses- 
sion, and  the  matter  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  Governor  Jay 
of  New  York,  then  just  elected,  and  8 February,  1796,  he  sent  the 
following  message  to  the  Legislature  : — 

‘•Gentlemen:  Having  received  information  that  certain  persons, 
under  pretence  of  title  from  a neighbouring  state  to  a considerable 
tract  of  country  in  this,  were  by  improper  practices  endeavouring  to 
draw  into  question  the  jurisdiction,  and  to  excite  opposition  to  the 
lawful  authority  oi  this  Stale  over  the  said  tract,  I referred  that  in- 
formation  to  the  Attorney  General,  with  directions  to  make  further 
inquiries  and  to  report  to  me  the  result.  I this  morning  received 
from  him  a letter  which  together  with  other  papers  respecting  this 
subject,  I have  now  the  honor  of  laving  before  you. 

‘‘  It  appears  to  me  expedient  as  well  as  just,  that  the  rights  of  the 
state  be  at  all  times  maintained  with  firmness,  and  vindicated  with 
promptitude  and  decision.” 

And  upon  the  fifteenth  of  the  same  month  he  addressed  the 
Legislature  again  as  follows,  in  a special  Message  : — 

“ You  will  also  herewith  receive  a representation  from  Jeremiah 
Halsey,  which  considering  its  connection  with  the  subject  of  my 
former  message  relative  to  the  opposition  said  to  be  existing  to  the 
jurisdiction  and  title  of  this  State,  to  and  over  a part  of  its  territory 
by  certain  persons  claiming  the  same,  I think  should  be  laid  before 
you.”  This  was  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole.  Four 
days  afterward,  the  Legislature  passed  the  following  Joint  Resolu- 
tion. 

“Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  the  Legislature  that  the  land 
within  this  State  lately  sold  by  the  state  of  Connecticut  has  been 
long  since  held  under  grants  from  this  state  and  the  late  Colony  of 
New  York,  and  great  part  thereof  is  actually  settled  under  such 
grants  aforesaid.  That  the  late  Colony  of  New  York,  and  this 
State  have  continually  exercised  jurisdiction  over  the  said  tract  of 
Country  from  the  first  settlement  thereof  without  any  claim  by  or 
on  the  part  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  until  the  late  sale  made  by 
that  state  since  the  last  session  of  the  Legislature  of  this  State. 
That  this  state  will  at  all  times  submit  to  the  decision  of  the  proper 
and  Constitutional  court  of  judicature  respecting  any  controversy 
with  any  State  or  any  person  claiming  under  any  State  in  the  Union. 
But  it  is  determined  until  such  decision  be  had,  to  maintain  the 
antient  jurisdiction  thereof,  and  to  protect  all  the  citizens  and 
inhabitants  of  this  State  in  their  rights  and  possessions  against  all 
claims  and  pretenses  whatsoever.  And  therefore  his  Excellency  the 
Governor  is  hereby  requested  to  direct  the  Attorney  General  to 


No.  71.] 


433 


institute  proper  suits  and  prosecutions  against  every  person  who 
shall  make  any  intrusion  or  entry  upon,  or  take  possession  of  any 
land  in  either  of  the  counties  of  Otsego,  Tioga,  or  Ontario  under 
any  claim  or  pretense  of  title  from  the  State  of  Connecticut  or  who 
shall  sell  or  buy  any  such  pretended  titles,  and  to  defend  at  the 
expense  of  this  State  all  suits  to  be  brought  by  or  under  the  State 
of  Connecticut  against  any  person  for  the  recovery  of  or  concerning 
any  land  in  either  of  the  said  Counties  held  under  this  State,  or  the 
agreement  between  this  State  and  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachu- 
setts. And  his  Excellency  the  Governor  is  also  hereby  requested 
to  issue  a Proclamation,  commanding  all  Magistrates  and  other  citi- 
zens of  this  State,  to  oppose  and  prevent  by  all  legal  means  in  their 
power  any  such  intrusion,  entry,  sale  or  purchase,  and  to  give  due 
notice  of  all  such  practices  as  may  come  to  their  knowledge.” 

Governor  Jay  at  once  issued  his  proclamation,  in  which,  after 
reciting  the  words  of  the  resolution,  he  concludes  with  “ to  the  end 
that  proper  measures  may  therefore  be  immediately  taken  to  main- 
tain the  authority  of  the  laws,  and  to  bring  the  offenders  to  an 
exemplary  punishment.” 

Upon  11  March,  the  Legislature  passed  uAn  Act  to  prevent  Intru- 
sions on  Lands  within  the  Jurisdiction  of  this  State , under  pretence 
of  Title  from  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

“Whereas  information  has  been  received  by  this  legislature,  that 
certain  persons  under  pretence  of  title  derived  from  a quit  claim 
grant  from  the  state  of  Connecticut,  for  a considerable  extent  of 
territory  within  this  state,  do  by  various  improper  practices 
endeavor  to  draw  into  question  the  jurisdiction  of  this  state  over 
the  said  territory,  excite  opposition  to  the  lawful  authority  thereof, 
and  defame  the  titles  of  persons  holding  lands  by  grants  under  the 
great  seal  of  this  state,  or  under  the  great  seal  of  the  late  colony  of 
New-York  ; in  order  therefore,  to  counteract  such  practices,  and  to 
preserve  the  just  rights  of  the  citizens  of  this  state, 

I.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  state  of  New-  Yorl\  repre- 
sented in  senate  and  assembly , That  if  any  person  shall  intrude  or 
settle  on  any  of  the  waste  or  ungranted  lands  of  this  state,  under  or 
by  virtue  of  any  title  or  claim  derived  from  or  under  the  state  of 
Connecticut,  take  possession  of  or  settle  on  any  lands  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  this  state,  every  such  person  shall  be  deemed  as  hold- 
ing such  lands  by  a foreign  title  against  the  right  and  sovereignty 
of  the  people  of  the  state  of  New  York ; and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  person  administering  the  government  of  this  state  for  the 
time  being,  to  remove  or  cause  to  be  removed  by  such  means, 
and  in  such  manner  as  he  shall  judge  proper  all  such  persons 
so  intruding,  settling  or  taking  possession  of  any  lands  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  this  state,  and  to  cause  all  the  buildings 
of  such  persons  to  be  destroyed,  and  for  that  purpose  in  his 
discretion  to  order  out  any  portion  of  the  militia  from  any  part  of 
this  state  ; and  every  detachment  so  from  time  to  time  to  be  ordered 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  55 


434 


[Senate 


out,  shall  receive  the  same  pay  and  rations,  and  be  subject  to  the 
same  rules  and  regulations  as  is  provided  by  law,  when  any  portion 
of  the  militia  of  this  state  is  ordered  out,  in  case  of  invasion  or 
other  emergency. 

‘‘II.  And  be  it  further  enacted , That  every  person  who  shall 
bargain,  sell  or  convey,  or  by  any  ways  or  means,  obtain,  get,  or 
procure  any  pretended  right  or  title,  or  make  or  take  any  promise, 
grant  or  covenant  to  have  any  right  or  title  of  any  person  or 
persons,  in  or  to  any  lands,  tenements  or  hereditaments  within  this 
state,  under  the  said  pretended  title  from  the  state  of  Connecticut, 
shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a public  offence  and  high  misdemeanor 
against  the  people  of  this  state,  and  may  be  prosecuted  for  the  same 
by  indictment  or  information  in  any  court  of  record  within  this 
state,  and  upon  conviction  be  punished  by  fine  and  imprisonment 
in  the  discretion  of  the  court,  and  if  a citizen  of  this  state,  shall 
moreover  be  disabled  forever  thereafter,  from  electing  or  being 
elected  to  any  office,  place  or  trust  within  this  state. 

“ III.  And  be  it  further  enacted , That  it  shall  and  hereby  is  made 
the  duty  of  and  strictly  enjoined  on  the  justices  of  the  peace,  sheriffs 
and  other  officers  of  the  government  of  this  state,  within  the  several 
counties  of  Otsego,  Tioga  and  Ontario,  immediately  after  the  passing 
of  this  act,  and  from  time  to  time  thereafter,  to  make  enquiry  in  the 
said  counties  respectively,  in  which  they  have  jurisdiction,  whether 
any  person  or  persons  have  already  settled,  or  shall  hereafter  settle 
or  claim  to  hold  lands  within  the  said  counties  under  pretence  of 
title  derived  from  such  quit  claim  or  other  grant  from  the  said  state 
of  Connecticut,  and  to  report  the  name  and  names  of  any  person  so 
settling  or  claiming  to  the  person  administering  the  government  of 
this  state  for  the  time  being,  to  the  end  that  they  may  be  proceeded 
against  according  to  law. 

“ IV.  And  be  it  further  enacted , That  in  case  any  suit  shall  be 
instituted  by  any  person  whomsoever,  claiming  under  any  grant  from 
the  state  of  Connecticut,  for  the  recovery  of  any  lands  within  either 
of  the  said  counties,  the  person  administering  the  government  of  this 
state  for  the  time  being,  upon  notice  thereof,  shall  direct  the  attor- 
ney-general of  this  state  to  defend  every  such  suit,  and  the  faith  of 
this  State  is  hereby  pledged  for  defraying  the  expense  of  all  the  costs 
and  charges  of  defending  every  such  suit  as  aforesaid.5’* 

Suits  of  Ejectment  were  brought  in  the  United  States  Circuit 
Court  for  the  District  of  Connecticut,  for  the  Connecticut  claimants 
by  Jonathan  Lyman  and  Samuel  Fowler,  against  Mary  Lindley  and 
others,  and  Abraham  Miller,  for  the  recovery  of  lands  in  Steuben  and 
Tioga  Counties,  to  which  the  plaintiffs  claimed  title  under  a grant 
from  Connecticut.  The  Lindley  suit  involved  the  title  of  part  of 
Township  1,  Range  2,  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  Purchase. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York,  3 Nov.,  1796,  further  instructed 
the  Governor  to  retain  the  Attorney  General  and  such  counsel  as 


*Laws  of  1796,  (3  Webster,)  Chap  xxv. 


No.  71.] 


435 


might  be  required  to  defend  these  suits  and  others  which  might  be 
instituted;  and  appropriated  the  sum  of  live  thousand  dollars  toward 
the  expense. 

From  the  report  of  the  Attorney  General,  Josiah  Ogden  Hoffman, 
to  Gov.  Jay  in  Nov.,  1797,  we  find  that  in  the  case  of  Abraham  Mil- 
ler, a default  was  entered,  but  waived  and  the  case  re-opened. 

Mr.  Hoffman  and  Col.  Hamilton  attended  the  session  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Court  at  Hartford  in  September  and  entered  plea  as  to  jurisdic- 
tion upon  the  ground  that  the  lands  in  question  were  outside  the 
limits  of  the  District  of  Connecticut,  and  the  plea  was  contested  by 
the  plaintiff.  The  object  of  the  latter  seemed  to  be  to  obtain  a jury 
entirely  composed  of  citizens  of  Connecticut.  Such  a jnry  was  chal- 
lenged on  the  ground  that  the  Deputy  Marshal  who  summoned  the 
jury  was  a citizen  of  Connecticut,  and  was  a claimant  under  that  State 
to  part  of  the  lands.  Upon  the  latter  ground,  the  plea  was  sustained 
and  the  case  put  over,  but  the  Court  overruled  the  plea  of  jurisdic- 
tion. Mr.  Hoffman  recommended  legislation  by  Congress  to  allow 
removal  of  cases  of  this  nature  to  places  of  trial  where  juries  may  be 
summoned  from  Districts  not  interested  in  the  controversy. 

An  act  of  this  character  was  introduced  into  Congress  but  it  failed 
to  pass.  Gov.  Jay  in  a message  in  May,  1798,  called  the  attention 
of  the  Legislature  to  the  rejection  of  this  bill,  and  recommended  the 
subject  to  the  serious  consideration  of  that  body.  And  in  March, 
1799,  he  requested  that  an  additional  appropriation  the  first  one  hav- 
ing become  exhausted,  and  the  following  item  w'as  inserted  in  the 
general  Appropriation  Bill  of  that  session : — “ That  the  treasurer 
shall  pay  to  the  order  of  the  person  administering  the  government  of 
this  state  such  sums  as  he  may  from  time  to  time  direct  for  defray- 
ing such  charges  and  expenses  as  have  arisen  or  may  arise  in  and 
about  the  defence  of  the  rights  of  this  State,  against  the  claim  made 
under  the  State  of  Connecticut.” 

The  case  was  taken  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  at 
Philadelphia,  where  the  question  whether  the  suits  ought  to  be  con- 
sidered as  depending  between  the  States  of  New  York  and  Connecti- 
cut, was  argued  by  Messrs.  Hoffman  and  Morgan  Lewis,  of  New  York 
for,  and  Hillhouse,  of  Connecticut  against,  upon  a motion  for  a rule  to 
remove  the  case  to  a place  of  trial  outside  the  jurisdiction  of  Con- 
necticut and  New  York. 

Meantime  the  Legislature  of  Connecticut  passed  a resolution 
agreeing  that  when  the  proprietors  of  the  gore  should  have  settled 
and  adjusted  all  disputes  with  New  York,  the  State  of  Connecticut 
would  release  the  whole  juridical  right  over  the  Territory,  and  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  recommendation  of  the  Legislature,  the  Land  Com- 
pany, 17  Dec., 1797,  appointed  James  Sullivan,  James  Wadsworth  and 
Alexander  Wolcott  as  Commissioners  to  negotiate  with  New  York, 
provided  that  the  negotiations  be  entered  upon  before  1 April,  1798. 
This  action  was  communicated  to  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  23 
Jan.,  1798,  by  Governor  Jay. 


436 


[Senate 


The  subject  was  promptly  considered  by  the  Legislature,  and  upon 
14  February  the  following  Resolution  was  passed. 

“Whereas  the  State  of  New  York  does  not  acknowledge  the 
claim  of  Connecticut  to  any  lands  in  this  State,  and  whereas  this 
State  has  full  confidence  in  the  impartiality,  knowledge,  and  integ- 
rity of  the  judiciary  of  the  United  States  in  regard  to  any  suit  com- 
menced, or  which  may  hereafter  be  commenced,  which  involves  the 
claim  of  the  people  of  Connecticut  to  any  lands  in  this  State,  there- 
fore, 

“ Resolved , That  it  would  be  improper  for  this  State  to  appoint 
commissioners  to  treat  or  confer  with  the  commissioners  on  the  part 
of  Connecticut  relative  to  the  dispute  in  question.” 

Before  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
wras  reached,  another  effort  for  an  amicable  adjustment,  was  made, 
by  the  Connecticut  Legislature  appointing  Commissioners  for  the 
settlement  of  the  controversy.  This  action  was  responded  to  by  the 
Legislature  of  New  York  by  the  passage  28  Feb.,  1800,  of  an  Act 
authorizing  the  Governor  to  appoint  the  Commissioners  “ to  finally  s 
settle  the  controversy  concerning  the  jurisdiction  of  the  tract  between 
this  State  and  Connecticut  in  such  a manner  as  they  should  judge 
most  conducive  to  the  interests  of  this  State.”*  Whether  the  Gov- 
ernor acted  under  this  law  is  unknown.  The  Supreme  Court  soon 
after  rendered  a decision,  declaring  that  the  States  were  not  parties 
and  that  the  Circuit  Court  had  jurisdiction.  “ How  far  a suit  may 
with  effect  be  instituted  in  this  Court  to  decide  the  right  of  jurisdic- 
tion between  two  States  abstractedly  from  the  right  of  soil,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  determine.  The  question  is  a great  one  ; but  not  before 
us.”f 

When  next  the  cases  were  called  in  the  District  Court  at  Hartford, 
the  plea  of  jurisdiction  was  again  entered  and  sustained  upon  the 
ground,  “ that  since  the  last  continuance  of  these  actions  the  State 
of  Connecticut  had  renounced  forever  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 
United  States,  and  of  the  several  individual  States  who  may  be 
therein  concerned  respectively,  and  of  those  deriving  claims  or  title 
from  them  or  any  of  them,  all  the  territorial  or  jurisdictional  claims 
whatever  under  any  grant,  charter,  or  charters  whatever  to  the  soil 
and  jurisdiction  of  any  and  all  lands  whatsoever  lying  westward  of 
the  east  line  of  New  York.”  The  cases  were  thrown  out  of  court 
with  costs  upon  the  claimants. 

As  is  expressed  in  a printed  appeal  published  in  1829,  “ here  the 
hopes  of  the  Gore  Company  terminated  and  the  prospects  of  gain 
under  the  grant  from  the  State  vanished  in  a moment.” 

“ They  had  expended  in  addition  to  the  consideration  in  the  deeds 
nearly  twenty  thousand  dollars  in  prosecuting  for  and  defending 
their  rights  to  the  land.  After  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court 
and  before  the  passage  of  the  Act  of  Cession,  sundry  new  members 
were  admitted  to  the  Gore  Company,  and  others  were  desirous  of 


Laws  of  1800,  chap.  xv. 


f 3 Dallas,  411. 


No.  71.] 


437 


being  admitted  upon  an  estimation  of  the  value  of  the  franchise  at 
the  sum  of  $250000.” 

At  the  final  decision  of  the  District  Court,  the  officers  of  the  Land 
Company  petitioned  the  Legislature  of  New  York  for  relief.  Their 
petition  was  referred  to  the  Attorney  General  and  Comptroller  and 
upon  their  report,  the  Legislature  26  Feb.,  1802,  passed  the  following 
preamble  and  resolution : — 

“ Whereas,  the  Atty  General  and  the  Comptroller  have  in  pursu- 
ance of  the  resolution  of  this  Senate,  at  the  last  session  of  the  legis- 
lature made  this  report  on  the  petition  of  Hezekiali  Bissell  and  Joseph 
Woodbridge,  Agents  for  the  claimants  of  lands  purchased  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  commonly  called  the  Gore,  wherein  the  Attor- 
ney General  states  as  his  opinion  that  the  legal  title  of  this  State  to 
the  lands  claimed  can  be  established  in  case  the  claimants  shall  judge 
fit  to  institute  new  suits.  Therefore 

“ Resolved  ....  That  it  would  be  inexpedient  and  in- 
consistent with  the  rights  and  interests  of  this  State,  to  accede  to  any 
terms  of  adjustment  or  compromise  offered  by  the  persons  claiming 
the  said  lands.” 

The  claimants  made  no  further  effort  to  contest  the  case  with  New 
York,  or  to  obtain  possession  of  the  land.  They  had  to  content 
themselves  with  a presentation  of  their  claim  to  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut, and  with  such  relief  as  might  be  obtained  in  printed  appeals 
to  the  sympathies  of  the  public. 


438 


[Senate 


APPENDIX  M. 


THE  ERIE  TRIANGLE. 

When  the  Legislature  of  New  York  passed  the  Act  of  Cession  in 
1780,  the  Revolutionary  War  was  still  in  progress.  When  the  Deed 
was  signed,  the  fortune  of  war  was  beginning  to  turn  in  favor  of 
the  United  States.  Pennsylvania  had  been  disappointed  in  her  claim 
of  thirty  years  before,  of  a northern  boundary  which  would  give 
her  the  entire  eastern  end  of  Lake  Erie,  a claim  which  was  supported 
by  many  of  the  most  authentic  ante-bellum  maps.  The  distorted 
representations  of  the  topographical  features  of  the  country  upon  the 
rude  maps  of  the  period,  encouraged  her  to  believe  that  she  still  had 
a valuable  lake  frontage  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  province. 

In  the  proceedings  preliminary  to  the  final  establishment  of  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  State,  the  General  Assembly  15  Septem- 
ber, 1783,  had,  at  the  request  of  the  merchants  of  Philadelphia,  ap- 
pointed Commissioners,  who  were,  among  other  things,  “ To  examine 
...  particularly  whether  any  part  of  lake  Erie  is  within  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania,  taking  particular  notes  of  the  nature  and 
geography  of  the  country  as  to  the  practicability  of  roads,  water 
carriage,  air,  soil,  natural  productions,  &ea.”* 

The  Commission  found  that  before  they  could  comply  with  this 
instruction  it  would  be  requisite  that  the  northern  boundary  should 
be  run. 

This  boundary  was  finally  established,  and  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, instead  of  lake  coast  of  thirty  or  forty  miles,  found  herself 
cut  off  with  but  two  or  three  miles  of  shore  line,  and  the  much- 
coveted  harbor  of  Presqu’  Isle  entirely  within  the  territory  ceded 
by  New  York  and  Massachusetts  to  the  United  States.  Pennsyl- 
vania cast  wistful  eyes  toward  this  land.  Its  extent  was  unknown, 
but  it  was  estimated  to  contain  nearly  a million  acres,  and  to  cover 
a lake  coast  of  eighty  or  ninety  miles. 

The  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  on  Monday,  12  Novem- 
ber, 1787,  one  month  after  the  completion  of  the  survey  of  the 
Parallel  Boundary,  “ Resolved,  That  the  Supreme  Executive  Coun- 
cil be  authorized  and  requested  to  obtain,  and  lay  before  the  General 
Assembly  a description  of  the  lands  lying  between  the  northern 
bouudary  of  this  State  and  Lake  Erie,  with  an  Estimate  of  the 
sum  necessary  to  purchase  such  part  thereof  as  may  be  thought 
necessary  to  accomodate  this  State.”f 

The  Vice-President  of  the  Executive  Council  transmitted  a copy 


*Penn.  Arch,  x,  129. 


f Penn.  Arch,  x,  211. 


No.  71.] 


430 


of  this  resolution  to  the  Delegates  of  Pennsylvania  in  Congress,  with 
the  following  remarks  : — 

u Council  request  you  will  be  pleased  to  give  them  such  informa- 
tion on  the  subject  as  may  be  in  your  power  — especially  on  the  part 
which  relates  to  the  Estimate  of  the  sum  necessary  to  purchase,  and 
for  what  sum  other  lands  belonging  to  The  United  States  in  these 
parts  were  sold.  It  may  likewise  be  necessary  to  obtain  information 
respecting  the  Western  Boundary  of  the  State  of  New  York,  to 
know  how  far  the  same  extends  along  the  Pennsylvania  line  in 
order  to  make  an  Estimate  of  the  Quantity.”* 

The  General  Assembly,  5 February  Resolved,  “That  Andrew 
Potter,  Esquire,  and  Major  William  Armstrong,  be  requested  to 
furnish  Council  with  the  best  description  they  can  of  the  lands  lying 
between  the  northern  boundary  of  this  State  and  Lake  Erie,  west  of 
the  boundary  of  the  State  of  New  York.”f 

Upon  16  February  these  gentlemen  both  responded,  and  their 
letters  are  given  below, 

“ Gentlemen,  Agreably  to  your  request  I have  herein  drawn  up 
a Description  of  the  Country  lying  between  the  northern  boundaries 
of  this  State  and  lake  Erie,  west  of  the  State  of  New- York,  viz. 

“ The  soil  will  come  under  the  description  Tolarable  good.  The 
Countary  is  clear  of  Mountains  and  but  very  little  broken  with  Hills. 
In  many  parts  of  it  are  very  rich  Tracts  of  land,  and  some  parts  are 
rather  wet  & swampy. — It  abounds  with  a great  variety  of  Timber, 
such  as,  Sugar  Trees,  Beech,  Ash,  Hickory,  Black  Peel  and  White 
Oak,  Chesnut,  Cherry,  Hemlock,  White  Pine,  Sycamore,  Elm,  Cow- 
cumber,  Aspen,  Birch,  Poplar,  Walnut,  &c. 

“ From  the  north  west  Corner  of  this  State  the  general  direction 
of  Lake  Erie  is  North  65°  East  for  upwards  of  sixty  Miles,  so  that 
the  angle  made  with  the  northern  Boundary  line  is  25° 

“ The  Bay  of  Presque  Isle  is  a safe  Harbour  for  shipping  and  the 
only  one  (on  this  side)  from  Gayahoga  to  the  lower  end  of  the  Lake. 
The  distance  from  Presque  Isle  to  La  Bauf,  on  the  French  creek  is 
about  15  miles,  and  the  ground  sufficiently  firm  to  admit  of  a good 
Road  the  whole  way  with  little  or  no  Bridging. 

“The  western  boundary  of  the  state  of  N.  York  has  not  yet  been 
ascertained,  probably  it  may  fall  a few  miles  East  of  the  Conawango 
River.;); — This  River  is  beatable  to  the  upper  end  of  Chadaghque 
Lake,  from  thence  there  is  a portage  of  about  9 miles  to  Lake  Erie. 

“ The  above  described  tract  of  Country  may  contain  between  7 
and  800,000  Acres.§ 

“ANDREW  PORTER.” 

* Penn.  Col.  Records,  xi,  237. 

f Idem,  xv,  382. 

X About  thirty-five  miles  east  of  its  true  location  as  ascertained  by  Andrew  Elli- 
cott  in  1790;  yet  the  Revised  Statutes  of  New  York  state  that  Andrew  Porter  and 
others  erected  a monument  on  this  western  line  in  1787.  (See  page  98.) 

§Penn,  Arch,  xi,  241, 


440 


[Senate 


“ Gentlemen,  Agreeable  to  the  request  of  your  Honorable  Board 
1 have  looked  over  some  of  my  notes  Taken  when  out  on  the  line 
last  summer  & find  that  after  we  Cross’d  the  Alligane  River 
the  last  time,  there  was  much  of  a sameness  in  the  Country  both  as 
to  Timber  & Soile  on  and  near  the  line  and  a greater  Variety  of 
Wood  on  the  same  space  then  I ever  saw  in  any  other  part,  a large 
Proportion  of  which  was  Beach,  Sugar  maple  & ash,  The  soile  in 
general  appears  rich  tho’  I believe  rather  Cold  for  some  kind  of 
grane,  But  well  adapted  to  grass.  The  Country  in  general  is  mid- 
ling  Flat  and  level  but  more  Particularly  so  on  the  heads  or  sorces  of 
the  small  stremes,  that  Emty  into  the  alligani  river,  all  the  waters 
running  into  the  Lake  having  a better  Current  & shorter  distence 
to  run.  The  high  dry  grounds  have  moderate  ascents  and  appear 
Pleasant  & very  few  stone  to  be  seen  on  the  surface,  the  waters  of 
French  Creek  and  the  Connowonge  both  afford  a good  Boat  Navi- 
gation to  within  a small  distance  of  the  Lake.  I could  not  see  that 
at  and  near  the  Lake  it  was  more  subject  to  Early  frosts  than  many 
parts  much  more  to  the  southward.  I am  of  opinion  that  it  is  Equal 
in  value  to  anv  Equal  Quantity  of  land  on  the  West  side  of  the  alli- 
gane river  within  the  lines  of  the  state,  according  to  Information  we 
Receiv’d  from  (Capt.  Wm.  Morris  one  of  the  Commissioners  from 
the  state  of  New  York)  that  the  line  of  session  from  New  York  to 
the  United  States  would  strike  the  line  of  our  state  at  or  near  the 
190  mile-stone.  Tho’  that  is  but  a matter  of  opinion  founded  on  his 
Information  at*  any  rate  vre  shall  Include  a large  part  of  the  Margen 
of  the  Lake  with  the  only  harber  on  it  which  Priquelle.  I remain 
with  much  Esteem,  your  Honors  most  Obedient,  & very  humble 
Servt* 


“WM  ARMSTRONG.” 


The  Executive  Council  also  reported  to  the  General  Assembly, — 
“ In  compliance  with  your  resolution  of  the  thirteenth  of  November 
last,  we  have  obtained  and  now  lay  before  the  General  Assembly, 
discriptions  of  the  lands  lying  between  the  Northern  Boundary  of 
this  State  and  Lake  Erie,  with  an  estimate  of  the  sums  which  will 
probably  be  necessary  for  the  purchases  of  the  same,  as  will  appear 
by  the  papers  marked  No.  1 and  2,  to  which  we  beg  leave  to  refer. 
We  have  likewise  wrote  to  our  Delegates  in  Congress,  relative  to 
the  estimate.  Their  answer  as  soon  as  it  comes  to  hand  will  be 
transmitted  to  your  House. 

“ We  have  now  the  pleasure  of  laying  before  you  a map  of  the 
Northern  boundary  of  this  State,  as  run  by  the  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose,  who  have  com  pleated  their  useful  work.”f 
The  following  is  probably  one  of  the  marked  papers  submitted  : — 
“ Estimate  of  Consideration  to  Indians  for  Triangle  at  Lake  Erie, 
1788  ” 


* Penn.  Arcli.  xi,  242-243. 


f Penn.  Col.  Rec.  xv,  392-3. 


No.  71.] 


441 


[Various  items  amounting  according  to  Estimate  to  £050] 

“ I beg  leave  to  inform  Council  that  it  appears  to  me  the  above 
Estimate  would  not  be  more  than  a sufficient  Consideration  for  the 
Claim  which  the  6 Nations  have  to  the  Triangular  piece  of  land 
which  this  Commonwealth  hath  in  contemplation  to  purchase  of 
sd  Indians.* 

“FRA.  JOHNSTON” 

The  message  of  the  Council  was-  referred  to  a committee  who  re- 
ported as  follows,  29  Feb., 

“ The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred,  the  message  of  Council 
respecting  the  purchase  of  a tract  of  land  on  Lake  Erie  beg  leave  to 
report, 

“ That  in  their  opinion  the  purchase  of  the  said  tract  of  land,  is 
an  object  highly  worthy  the  attention  of  this  State,  therefore  offer 
the  following  resolution. 

“ Resolved,  That  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  be  authorized 
to  negociate  with  the  United  States  for  such  tract  of  country  as  may 
appear  to  be  their  property  on  Lake  Erie  adjoining  to  the  northern 
boundary  of  this  State,  and  report  to  the  General  Assembly  the 
terms  required  by  Congress  with  an  estimate  of  all  other  expences 
which  in  their  opinion  may  be  necessary  for  compleating  the  pur- 
chase.”! 

[This  report  was  adopted.] 

The  Delegates  in  Congress  replied  to  Vice  President  Muhlenberg’s 
letter  28  Feb.,  “ Sir,  We  received  your  letter  of  the  5th  Feb’ry  & 
should  not  have  so  long  delayed  our  answer  could  we  have  sooner 
given  any  satisfactory  information  to  either  the  Council  or  the  House. 

“ With  respect  to  the  quantity  of  the  tract  nothing  can  be  conjec- 
tured with  accuracy  & as  the  estimate  you  require  must  be  founded 
principally  on  this  fact,  we  have  as  a first  step,  originated  enquiry  by 
motion  in  Congress  which,  should  its  progress  be  unobstructed,  will 
at  once  decide  the  size  & property  of  the  Tract,  should  it  fall  within 
the  United  States,  the  price  will  not  in  all  probability  exceed  one 
Dollar  in  certificates  per  acre,  & if  within  the  State  of  Massachusetts, 
much  less  as  that  State  cannot  well  exceed  the  terms  of  the  New 
York  Land  office. 

“ The  moment  Congress  come  to  any  act  on  this  subject,  we  shall 
have  the  honor  of  communicating  it.”! 

Congress,  6 June,  adopted  the  following: — “Resolved,  That  the 
geographer  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  is  hereby  directed  to  as- 
certain by  bimself  or  by  a deputy  duly  appointed  for  the  purpose, 
the  boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and  the  states  of  New 
York  and  Massachusetts,  agreeably  to  the  deeds  of  cession  of  the 
said  states. 

* Penn.  Arch,  xi,  245.  The  items  of  the  Estimate  are  given  in  the  report  on 
page  444. 

f Penn.  Arch,  xi,  252 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  5f> 


t Idem,  xi,  251. 


442 


[Senate 


“ That  the  said  geographer  inform  the  executives  of  the  states  of 
New  York  and  Massachusetts  of  the  time  of  running  the  said  line, 
in  order  that  they  or  either  of  them  may,  if  they  think  proper,  have 
persons  attending  at  the  time. 

“ That  the  said  geographer  or  his  deputy,  having  run  the  meridian 
between  Lake  Erie  and  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  marked  and 
noted  down  in  his  field-book,  proper  land  marks  for  perpetuating  the 
same,  shall  proceed  to  make  a survey  of  the  land  lying  west  of  the 
said  line,  between  lake  Erie  and -the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  so  as  to 
ascertain  the  quantity  thereof,  and  make  return  of  such  survey  to  the 
board  of  treasury*  who  are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  at  any 
time  before  or  after  such  survey,  to  sell  the  said  tract  in  whole,  at 
private  sale,  for  a price  not  less  than  three-fourths  of  a dollar  per  acre 
in  specie,  or  public  securities  drawing  interest.” 

These  Resolutions  were  transmitted  to  the  Council  of  Pennsyl 
vania  by  the  Delegates  in  Congress  requesting  instructions,  and 
14  June,  the  Council  “ Resolved,  Tlidt  the  President  inform  our 
Delegates  in  Congress,  that  they  are  authorized  and  empowered  by 
this  Board  to  negotiate  and  contract  with  Congress,  in  behalf  of  this 
State,  for  the  purchase  of  the  lands  before  described,  at  the  rate  of 
three-quarters  of  a dollar  per  acre  in  specie  or  public  securitys  bear- 
ing interest.”* 

Upon  7 July  the  Delegates  addressed  the  United  States  Board  of 
Treasury : — 

u We  the  delegates  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  in  compliance 
with  instructions,  and  in  virtue  of  powers,  received  from  the  said 
State,  do  hereby  offer  to  contract  (in  behalf  of  the  said  State)  with 
the  Honble  Board  of  Treasury,  for  a tract  of  land  belonging  to  the 
United  States,  contained  in  the  interval  betwixt  a Meridian  Line, 
run  between  Lake  Erie  and  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
Boundaries  of  the  States  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts,  at  the 
rate  of  three-fourths  of  a dollar  per  acre  ; payable  in  Gold  or  Silver, 
or  in  public  securities  of  the  United  States,  bearing  interest ; when 
the  quantity  ascertained  by  actual  survey,  in  the  manner  prescribed 
by  a resolution  of  Congress,  of  the  7th  of  June,  1788.f 

“ WM.  BINGHAM. 
JAMES  R.  REID.” 

Samuel  Osgood  and  Arthur  Lee  of  the  Board  of  Treasury  re- 
sponded : — 

“ Gentlemen,  The  United  States  in  Congress  having  by  their  act 
of  the  20th  instant;};  determined  that  no  reservations  are  in  their 
judgment,  necessary  to  be  made  on  account  of  the  United  States,  in 
a certain  Tract  of  Land,  contained  in  the  interval  betwixt  a meridian 
Line,  run  between  Lake  Erie  and  the  State  of  Pennsylvania;  and 
the  Boundaries  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts.  We 

* Penn.  Col.  Rec.  xv,  471-3. 

f Penn.  Arch,  xi,  383. 

X This  Act  does  not  appear  in  the  printed  Journals  of  Congress. 


Wo.  71.] 


443 


beg  leave  to  acquaint  jour  that  we  accept  jour  Proposal  for  the  pur- 
chase of  the  said  tract,  on  behalf  of  the  state  of  Pennsil vania,  as 
expressed  in  jour  letter  of  the  7tli  July,  1788.”* 

This  proposition  was  at  once  reported  to  the  Executive  Council  bj 
the  Delegates. f 

Congress  on  4 September,  1788,  adopted  the  following  Preamble 
and  Resolution,  a copy  of  which  was  transmitted  the  same  daj  to 
the  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania. 

“ Whereas  it  appears  that  the  board  of  treasury,  in  conformity  to 
the  act  of  Congress  of  the  6th  of  June  last,  have  entered  into  a con- 
tract with  the  delegates  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  in  behalf  of 
the  said  state,  for  the  tract  of  land  bounded  east,  agreeably  to  the 
cession  of  western  territory,  by  the  states  of  Massachusetts  and 
We w- York,  south  by  Pennsylvania,  north  and  west,  by  Lake  Erie; 
and  whereas  the  said  tract  is  entirely  separated  from  the  other  lands 
of  the  western  territory,  over  which  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United 
States  extends  ; And  whereas  under  these  circumstances  it  will  be 
expedient  for  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  to  hold  and  exercise  juris- 
diction over  the  tract  aforesaid  ; therefore, 

“ Resolved , That  the  United  States  do  hereby  relinquish  and  trans- 
fer all  their  right,  title  and  claim  to  the  government  and  jurisdiction 
of  the  said  tract  of  land,  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  forever. 
And  it  is  hereby  declared  and  made  known,  that  the  laws  and  pub- 
lic acts  of  the  said  state  shall  extend  over  every  part  of  the  same 
tract,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  if  the  same  had  been  originally 
within  the  charter  bounds  of  the  said  state ; provided  that  the  in- 
habitants of  the  said  tract  shall  be  maintained  in  all  the  rights  and 
privileges  which  other  citizens  of  the  said  state  of  Pennsylvania  are 
now  or  may  hereafter  be  constitutionally  entitled  to  enjoy.” 

President  Muhlenberg,  8 September,  transmitted  the  Resolution 
of  Congress  to  the  Speaker  of  the  General  Assembly  with  the  fol- 
lowing remarks : — 

“ By  accounts  received  from  Pittsburgh,  a pacific  disposition  is 
manifested  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  and  there  is  now  reason  to 
expect  a large  meeting  of  the  Wortliern  and  Western  Tribes  at  Mus- 
kingum, to  hold  a treaty  with  the  Continental  Commissioners.  This 
favorable  opportunity  ought  not,  in  the  opinion  of  Council,  to  be 
missed  — for  altho’  the  quantity  of  Land  in  the  Triangle  purchased 
from  the  Board  of  Treasury  cannot  be  ascertained  with  precision 
before  the  necessary  lines  are  run  agreeable  to  the  Act  of  Congress 
of  the  sixth  day  of  June  last,  yet,  as  a great  part  of  the  Expence 
attending  Treaties  with  Indians  is  incurred  by  collecting  and  fur- 
nishing them  with  provisions;  charges  which,  in  this  Instance,  may 
be  avoided. 

“ Council,  therefore,  earnestly  recommend  the  appointing  Com- 
missioners on  the  part  of  this  State  to  attend  the  ensuing  Treaty  for 
purchasing  from  the  Indians  who  may  appear  to  have  just  Claims  to 
the  same,  the  whole  of  the  Triangle  aforesaid,  as  nearly  as  the 


* Penn.  Arcli.  xi,  382. 


fPenn.  Col.  Rec.  xv,  523-4, 


444  [Senate 

bounds  of  the  same  may  be  ascertained  bv  the  best  information 
which  can  be  now  obtained.”* 

And  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  submitted  the  following  re- 
port to  the  Assembly, — 

“ That  they  have  negotiated  with  Congress  for  purchasing  the 
land  contained  in  the  interval  betwixt  a meridian  line  run  between 
Lake  Erie  and  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  boundaries  of  the 
States  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts,” 


“ An  Estimate  of  other  probable  expenditures  that  may  be  in- 
curred by  the  purchase  is  herewith  presented,  amounting  to  the  sum 
of  Nine  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  . 

“ To  conclude  the  business  with  the  United  States,  it  now  remains 
for  the  General  Assembly  to  make  the  requisite  appropriation  of 
public  securities,  and  to  assign  funds  whence  the  other  expences 
may  be  drawn. 

“1788,  Septr. 

“An  Estimate  of  the  expence  that  may  probably  attend  the  business 
of  the  Lake  Erie  Lands,  if  it  should  be  directed  to  purchase  the 
claim  of  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians. 


Supposed  price  in  various  suitable  articles  amounting  1000  dollars £375 

Provisions  of  different  kinds 100 

Charges  of  Waggonage,  Boat  hire,  &c 150 

Pay  of  Commissioners,  hire  of  Interpreters,  Runners,  &c., 250 

Presents  to  the  Great  Men 75 


f£950 


These  Communications  were  referred  to  a committee  which  re- 
ported 13  September  as  follows : 

“ That  your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  purchase  made  by 
Council  is  advantageous  to  this  Commonwealth,  and  should  be  con- 
firmed by  this  House. 

“ That  it  will  therefore  be  necessary  to  provide  adequate  Funds 
for  complying  with  the  Contract  and  making  the  purchase  of  the 
Country  from  the  Indians,  agreeably  to  the  Policy  and  Justice  which 
have  ever  marked  the  Conduct  of  Pennsylvania  in  such  Cases. 

“ That  as  a Treaty  is  now  about  to  be  held  with  the  Indians  at 
Muskingum,  it  will  be  proper  and  (economical  to  take  advantage  oi 
this  Circumstance  to  make  overtures  at  least  to,  and  if  practicable 
to  compleat  the  purchase  of  the  said  Country  from,  the  Savages,  The 
Expence  and  delay  of  a particular  Treaty  for  so  small  an  object  will 
hereby  be  avoided. 

“ That  in  order  to  ascertain  as  nearly  as  might  be  the  quantity  ol 
Land  which  was  the  subject  of  the  Contract,  your  Committee  re 
quested  the  attendance  of  Mr.  Ellicot,  an  intelligent  person  and 


* Penn.  Col.  Rec.  xv,  530-1. 


f Penn.  Arcli.  xi,  389,  390. 


No.  71.] 


445 


well  acquainted  with  that  Country.  But  as  the  meridian  Line  form- 
ing the  Western  Boundary  of  New  York  is  not  actually  run,  the 
Quantity  cannot,  with  any  degree  of  accuracy,  be  ascertained.  On 
an  estimate,  calculated  on  the  supposed  place  of  the  said  meridian  in 
a point  of  the  Northern  Line  of  Pennsylvania  the  most  favorable 
to  the  pretension  of  New  York,  there  appear  about  one  Million  of 
Acres  contained  within  the  Boundaries  of  this  Purchase.  Wherefore 
your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  following  Resolution  be 
recommended  to  the  Consideration  of  the  House. 

“ Resolved,  That  this  House  accept,  on  the  part  of  this  Common- 
wealth, the  Contract  made  with  the  Board  of  Treasury  of  the  United 
States  by  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  this  State,  thro’  the 
Agency  of  the  Delegates  of  this  State  in  Congress,  as  mentioned  in 
the  proposals  of  the  said  Delegates,  dated  the  7th  day  of  July,  in 
the  present  year, 

“ That  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  be,  and  they  are  hereby 
authorized  and  fully  empowered  to  take  the  Necessary  Steps  for  pur- 
chasing of  the  Indians  — who  have  just  Claims  thereto  the  said  Tract 
of  Country,  and  for  this  purpose  to  appoint,  when  they  may  think 
necessary,  two  persons  as  Commissioners  to  negotiate  and  coinpleat 
the  said  purchase.* * * § 

“ Resolved,  That  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  be,  and  they 
are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  draw  on  the  Treasury  of 
this  State  for  a Sum  not  exceeding  Nine  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
for  the  purpose  of  making  the  purchase  of  the  Indians  of. the  said 
Tract  and  bearing  all  Expences  of  the  same,  agreeably  to  an  Es- 
timate by  the  said  Council,  communicated  to  this  House.”f 

The  report  was  adopted  and  Gen.  Richard  Butler  and  Gen.  John 
Gibson  were  u appointed  Commissioners  to  carry  into  effect  the  said 
resolutions  so  far  as  circumstances  will  admit.”]; 

On  the  third  of  October  following  an  Act  was  passed  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania Legislature  authorizing  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  “ to 
draw  on  the  State  Treasurer  for  a sum  of  money  for  defraying  the 
expence  of  purchasing  of  the  Indians  lands  on  Lake  Erie.”  (Chap- 
ter 1355).  By  this  Act  a sum  of  £1200  was  granted  for  this  pur- 
pose. And  a further  grant  of  £865,  15s.  4d.  was  added  28  Sept., 
1789.  (Chapter  1439.)§ 

Messrs  Butler  and  Gibson  were  immediately  notified  of  their  ap- 
pointment by  Vice  President  Muhlenberg  in  the  following  letter  of 
instruction : — 

“Gentlemen;  — You  will  herewith  receive  a resolution  of  the 
Honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  thirteenth  ultimo,  together 
with  the  several  resolutions  of  Congress,  respecting  the  triangular 
piece  of  Country  which  lies  adjoining  Lake  Erie  and  the  northern 

*Tlie  “ Erie  Triangle  ” was  a part  of  the  territory  ceded  to  the  Proprietaries  by 
the  Six  Nations  at  the  Treaty  of  Albany  in  1754,  and  relinquished  by  them  at  the 

Treaty  of  Easton  in  1758. 

fPenn.  Arch,  xi,  395-6  JPenn.  Col.  Rec.  xv,  533 

§ Smith’s  Laws,  ii,  123-4 


446 


[Senate 


line  of  Pennsylvania,  by  which  you  will  find  that  this  State  is  now 
vested  with  both  right  of  jurisdiction  and  soil.  You  will  likewise 
receive  a commission  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  from  the  Natives 
their  claim  to  the  soil,  agreeably  to  the  constant  usage  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, as  also  a rough  draft*  of  the  country  in  question,  laid  down 
by  Mr.  Ellicot,  in  the  best  manner  he  has  been  able  from  his  present 

knowledge  of  it 

“ The  Board  have  great  reliance  on  your  prudence,  sagacity  and 
particular  knowledge  of  these  people,  as  well  as  a proper  knowledge 
of  their  present  disposition  from  the  Continental  transactions,  which 
one  of  you  have  or  are  now  especially  conversant  with.  If  there- 
fore, you  shall  find  the  Indians  who  have  just  claims  in  a proper 
temper  or  otherwise,  you  will  be  governed  accordingly, 
it  is,  however,  hoped  that  you  may  be  able  to  dispose  the  minds 
of  these  people,  at  least  to  appoint  delegates  to  meet  at  a certain 
future  day  and  place,  to  finish  what  you  have  happily  now  begin.”f 
For  making  the  map  the  Records  of  the  Council  show  that  Ben- 
jamin Ellicott  received  the  sum  of  one  pound  five  shillings. 

The  Commissioners  met  the  representatives  of  the  Six  Nations  at 
Fort  Harmar,  on  the  Ohio  River,  in  November  and  December. 
Cornplanter  took  a leading  part  in  the  negotiation  and  exerted  his 
influence  in  favor  of  the  State,  incurring  thereby  the  resentment 
of  many  of  his  people  who  were  opposed  to  allowing  the  whites 
any  further  concessions.  The  treat}^  was  concluded  and  the  follow- 
ing agreement  was  signed  : 

“ Be  it  remembered  by  all  whom  it  may  concern  : 

“ That  on  the  ninth  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty  nine,  in  open  and  public  Coun- 
cil, we  the  undersigned  Chief,  Warriors,  and  others,  Representing 
the  following  named  Tribes  of  the  Six  Nations,  to  wit — The 
Ondwagas,  or  Senecas,  Cayugas,  Tuscaroras,  Onandagas,  and 
Oneidas ; for  and  in  behalf  of  ourselves,  our  tribes,  our  and  their 
Heirs  and  Successors,  on  the  one  part — and  Richard  Butler  and 
John  Gibson,  Esquires,  Commissioners  for  and  in  behalf  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  (Onas)  on  the  other  part,  did  make  and  con- 
clude upon  the  following  articles,  viz.  : 

Article  1st. 

“ That  as  soon  as  these  articles  are  signed,  interchangably  by  the 
aforesaid  Chiefs  and  Commissioners,  the  said  Chiefs  will  execute  a 
Deed  of  Conveyance  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  for  a tract  of 
Country  as  hereafter  shall  be  described. 

Article  2nd. 

“ The  signing  Chiefs  do  acknowledge  the  right  of  the  soil  and 
jurisdiction  to,  in,  and  over  that  tract  of  Country  bounded  on  the 


* This  Map  is  published  in  Penn.  Arch.  xi. 
t Penn.  Col.  Records,  xv,  554-5. 


No.  71.] 


447 


South  by  the  North  line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the  East 
by  the  West  boundary  of  the  State  of  New  York,  agreeable  to  the 
cession  of  that  State  and  the  State  of  Massachusetts  to  the  United 
States,  and  on  the  North  by  the  Margin  of  Lake  Erie,  including 
Presque  Isle  and  all  the  Bays  and  harbors  along  the  margin  of  said 
Lake  Erie,  from  the  West  boundary  of  Pennsylvania  to  where  the 
West  boundary  of  the  State  of  New  York  may  cross  or  intersect 
the  South  margin  of  the  said  Lake  Erie 


Article  3rd. 

“ The  said  Chiefs  do  agree  that  the  said  State  of  Pennsylvania 
shall  and  may  at  any  time  they  may  think  proper,  survey,  dis- 
pose of  and  settle,  all  that  part  of  the  aforesaid  Country  lying  and 
being  West  of  a line  running  along  the  middle  of  Conawago  river 
from  its  confluence  with  the  Allegany  River  into  the  Chadochque 
Lake,  thence  along  the  middle  of  the  said  lake  to  the  North  end  of 
the  same,  thence  a meridian  line  from  the  North  end  of  the  said 
lake  to  the  margin  or  shore  of  Lake  Erie 

Article  5th. 

“ That  as  several  villages  belonging  to  the  signing  Chiefs  and 
their  people  are  now  living  on  the  said  Conowaga  creek  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  country  supposed  to  be  within  the  tract  of 
country  West  of  the  West  line  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  East 
of  the  line  through  the  waters  as  described  in  the  third  Article 
— And  as  they  have  no  country  to  remove  to  from  where  they  now 
live,  the  said  chiefs  do  reserve  for  their  own  and  their  people’s  resi- 
dence, hunting  and  fishing,  all  that  part  of  the  tract  of  Country 
described  in  the  second  Article,  passing  from  the  Allegany  river 
along  the  middle  of  the  Conowago  creek,  the  Chedochque  Lake 
and  a meridian  line  from  the  North  end  of  said  lake  to  Lake  Erie. 


Article  7th. 

“The  said  Richard  Butler  and  John  Gibson,  Esquires 
do  agree  to  the  aforesaid  articles  . . . . and 

that  the  aforesaid  Chiefs  and  the  people  of  their  tribes,  shall 
have  full  and  peaceable  liberty  to  hunt  and  fish  within  any  part  of 
the  Country  first  above  described,  they  demeaning  themselves  peace- 
ably towards  the  inhabitants.  But  the  said  Chiefs  or  their  success- 
ors, shall  not  at  any  time  hereafter,  directly  or  indirectly,  lease, 
rent,  or  make  sale  of  any  part  or  parcel  of  the  tract  here  Reserved 
for  their  Use  and  Residence,  to  any  other  State,  person  or  persons. 

“ In  testimony  of  the  above  Articles 

“ In  presence  of  “Richard  Butler  (L.  S.) 

Ar  St.  Clair,  Jno.  Gibson  (L.  S.) 

[and  seven  others],”  Cachunwasse,  (L.  S.) 

[Seneca]  Or  Twenty  Canoes.” 
[and  twenty-two  other  Indians.]* 


* Penn.  Arch,  xi,  530-533. 


448  [Senate 

After  which  Cornplanter  and  twenty  three  other  Chiefs  executed 
the  Deed,  which  is  as  follows : 

“ Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we  the  undersigned  Chiefs, 
Wariors  & others  representing  the  following  named  tribes  of  the 
Six  Nations,  to  wit : The  Ondawagas  or  Senecas  Cayugas,  Susque- 

hannas,  Onandagas  & Oneidas,  for,  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum 
of  Four”  ■[?  two]  “ thousand  Dollars  to  us  in  hand  paid  by  Richard 
Butler  and  John  Gibson,  Esqs,  Commissioners  for  and  in  behalf  of  the 
State  of  Pennsa.,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  and  we, 
for  ourselves,  our  tribes,  our  & their  heirs  & successors,  [are]  there- 
with fully  paid  & satisfied,  have  granted,  bargained,  sold  and  assigned 
over,  and  by  these  presents  do  grant,  bargain,  sell,  remise,  release 
[and  forever]  quit  claim  & assign  over  unto  the  sd.  State  of  Pennsa., 
all  our  and  their  [right,]  title,  claim,  and  interest  of,  in  and  to  all 
that  tract  of  Country,  situate,  lying  & being  wdthin  the  territory  of 
the  United  States,  bounded  on  the  South  by  the  North’n  [line  or] 
boundary  [of  the  State]  of  Pennsa.,  on  the  East  by  the  Western 
line  or  boundary  of  the  State  of  New  York,  agreeable  to  an  act  of 
Cession  of  the  said  State  of  New  York,  and  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  United  States,  and  [on]  the  North  by  the  Southern 
shore  or  Margin  of  Lake  Erie,  including  Presq’  isle  and  all  the  Bays 
[and]  Harbors  along  the  shore  or  Margin  of  the  said  Lake  Erie  from 
the  West  Boundary  of  the  Said  State  of  Pennsa.,  to  where  the  wrest 
line  or  boundary  of  the  State  of  New  York  may  cross  or  intersect 
the  southern  shore  or  margin  of  the  sd.  Lake  Erie.”* 

By  the  second  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  in  October,  1784,  at  the  same 
time  that  Pennsylvania  purchased  the  Indian  title  to  the  lands  within 
her  boundaries  northwest  of  the  Fort  Stanwix  line  of  1768,  the 
United  States  had  concluded  a treaty  of  peace  with  the  Six  Nations 
and  the  latter  agreed  to  relinquish  all  claims  to  the  Country  lying 
west  of  a line  “ beginning  at  the  mouth  of  a creek  about  four  miles 
east  of  Niagara,  called  Oyonwagea,  or  Johnston’s  landing  place,  on 
the  Lake  named  by  the  Indians  Oswego,  and  by  us  Ontario,  from 
thence  Southerly  in  a direction  always  four  miles  East  of  the  Carry- 
ing place  between  Lakes  Erie,  and  Ontario,  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Tehoseron,  or  Buffalo  Creek,  on  Lake  Erie,  thence  South  to  the  North 
Boundary  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  thence  West  to  the  end  of 
the  said'Nortli  Boundary,  thence  South  along  the  West  Boundary 
of  the  said  State  to  the  river  Ohio. 

“ The  said  line  from  the  mouth  of  the  Oyonwagea  to  the  Ohio, 
shall  be  the  Western  Boundary  of  the  lands  of  the  Six  Nations,  so 
that  the  Six  Nations  shall,  and  do  yield  to  the  United  States  all 
claim  to  the  country  West  of  said  Boundary,  and  then  they  shall  be 
secured  in  the  peaceful  possession  of  the  lands  East  and  North  of 
the  same,  reserving  only  six  miles  square  round  the  Fort  of  Oswego 
to  the  United  States  for  the  support  of  the  same.” 

This  however  was  considered  simply  as  a definition  of  boundaries 


* Penn.  Arch,  xii,  100-101. 


No.  71.] 


449 


and  not  a cession  of  territory,  and  therefore  Pennsylvania  found  it 
necessary  to  treat  anew  with  the  Indians  in  order  to  quiet  them. 
The  Commissioners  when  they  reached  Fort  Harmai  found  that 
their  stock  of  money  and  presents  was  not  sufficient  for  the  purpose 
and  made  a requisition  for  an  additional  stock  of  goods  for  presents. 

Generals  Butler  and  Gibson  reported  to  the  Executive  Council 
24  March,  1789,  presenting  the  agreement  and  Deed  which  they  had 
obtained.  General  Butler  also  sent  a letter  recommending  a grant 
of  land  of  1000  or  1500  acres  to  Cornplanter  in  consideration  of  his 
services  to  the  State  in  the  various  Treaties. 

The  east  line  of  the  land  ceded  by  New  York,  for  the  purchase  of 
which  Pennsylvania  was  negotiating,  had  not  been  run,  and  a good 
deal  of  uncertainty  existed,  as  we  liave  seen,  in  the  minds  of  the 
State  officers,  as  to  where  it  would  strike  the  north  line  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  as  to  the  amount  of  land  she  would  gain  by  it.  The 
following  letter  from  Tench  Coxe,  26  January,  1789,  to  President 
Miffiin  of  the  Council,  bears  upon  this  point : — 

u Sir,  I had  the  honor  of  writing  you  a very  few  lines  shortly 
after  my  arrival  [at  New  York].  Mr.  Gorham  having  arr’d  since, 
we  have  five  states,  and  every  reason  to  expect  there  will  be  seven 

in  a week  or  ten  days 

“ In  conversation  last  Night  with  Mr.  Gorham,  I find  he  and 
Mr.  Philips,”  [Phelps],  “ who  purchased  of  Massachusetts,  all  the 
lands  between  the  line  of  pre  emption  and  the  western  bounds  of 
New  York  are  of  opinion  that  the  words  of  the  New  York  cession 
to  Congress  do  not  operate  a transfer  of  the  lands  east  of  Erie  to 
Congress,  and  of  course  that  the  jurisdiction  remains  in  New  York 
and  that  the  property  is  vested  in  them  under  the  grant  of  New 
York  to  Massachusetts  — ’Tis  certain  that  the  grant  or  cession  of 
New  York  discovers  a considerable  deficiency  of  Geographical  in- 
formation, which  you  will  easily  see,  Sir,  by  recurring  to  it.  The 
substance  is  that  New  York  is  to  continue  her  South  line  along  our 
North  line  to  the  end  of  the  latter  and  so  far  leyond  it  as  to  throw 
a particular  part  of  the  Western  waters  (the  western  Bend  of  Lake 
Ontario)  20  miles  east  of  a line  to  be  run  from  the  extremity  of  the 
South  line  aforesaid  to  the  45th  degree  of  N.  Latitude.  It  is  now 
ascertained,  that  the  20  miles  east  of  the  place  in  contemplation  will 
be  contained  within  a line  that  will  fall  far  on  this  side  Erie  — The 
question  will  be,  what  will  be  the  Consequence  of  this  geographical 
Error?  My  opinion  on  a slight  examination  is,  that  it  will  leave 
our  purchase  good.  Mr.  Gorham  seems  desirous  if  the  law  proves 
theirs  to  sell  to  Pennsylvania,  but  it  is  necessary  that  we  remember 
their  doctrine  deprives  us  of  the  Jurisdiction,  for  New  York  most 
probably  will  not  part  with  it.  I think  it  proper  to  add  further 
that  Mr.  Gorham  raised  a question,  whether  the  grant  of  the  Juris- 
diction to  Penns’a  by  Congress  was  valid.  These  loose  hints,  Sir, 
upon  so  important  a point  are  not  fit  in  form,  at  least,  for  the  pub- 
lic Eye,  but  it  is  necessary,  that  you,  and  the  other  superior  characters 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  57 


450  [Senate 

in  our  government  should  be  apprized  of  the  difficulty  which  is  at- 
tempted to  be  raised. 

“ The  purchase  made  of  Indians  by  Mr.  Gorham  & Co.,  (part  of 
their  whole  purchase  from  the  state)  begins  at  our  82d  mile  stone, 
and  runs  along  our  N.  line  to  the  124th,'x* * * §  and  then  runs  due  N to 
the  great  Fork  of  the  Genesee  river.”  . . . f 

Andrew  Ellicott,  who  had  been  one  of  the  Commissioners  upon 
the  Western  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania  in  1785,  and  upon  the 
Northern  Boundary  in  1786-7,  was  appointed  by  President  Wash- 
ington to  make  the  survey  of  the  Cession  line,  and  of  the  tract  which 
Pennsylvania  proposed  to  purchase.  He  had  first  been  designated 
by  the  Geographer  General,  Capt.  Thomas  Hutchins,  to  undertake 
the  work  under  resolution  of  Congress  of  6 June,  1788,  but  no 
provision  seems  to  have  been  made  fpr  payment  for  his  services. 
He  therefore  applied  to  Congress  for  an  advance  of  money  to  defray 
his  expenses,  and  Congress,  19  Aug.,  1789,  amended  the  resolution 
authorizing  the  survey  to  read  as  follows  : — “ That  the  survey  di- 
rected by  Congress  in  their  act  of  June  6th,  1788,  be  made  and  re- 
turned to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  without  delay ; and  that 
the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  appoint  a fit 
person  to  complete  the  same,  who  shall  be  allowed  five  dollars  per 
day,  whilst  actually  employed  in  the  said  service,  with  the  expenses 
necessarily  attending  the  execution  thereof.”  The  re-appointment 
was  made  4 Sept.,  1789,  under  this  Resolution.  Before  proceeding 
to  the  frontier,  Mr.  Ellicott  made  the  following  suggestion  to  the 
President  of  the  Council  of  Pennsylvania : — u As  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  by  its  purchase  of  the  United  States,  of  a Tract  of 
Country  lying  on  the  South  Side  of  Lake  Erie,  has  become  inter- 
ested in  the  Execution  of  the  survey,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  Quan- 
tity of  Land,  I would  therefore  just  suggest  the  Idea  of  some  person 
being  authorized  to  attend  on  behalf  of  the  State.”:); 

And  in  June,  1790,  while  engaged  on  the  survey  he  addressed  the 
following  note  to  the  Council : — 

“ Gentlemen,  In  order  to  satisfy  the  Indians,  and  insure  safety  to 
myself,  and  party,  in  the  execution  of  the  resolve  of  Congress  of 
June  6th,  1788,  I think  it  will  be  necessary  to  have  a copy  of  the 
Deed  given  by  the  Senecas,  to  Messrs.  Butler,  and  Gibson,  Commis- 
sioners on  behalf  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  for  certain  land  ly- 
ing on  the  South  side  of  Lake  Erie,  and  west  of  the  Conawango 
River,  and  the  Carrying  place  between  Lake  Chaughtaughque,  and 
Lake  Erie.”§ 

His  request  was  granted.  The  Deed  to  which  he  referred  is  that 
signed  by  Cornplanter  and  other  Indian  Sachems,  given  supra. 

The  following  extract  from  a letter  written  by  Mr.  Ellicott  to  a 
friend  in  Albany,  N Y.,  11  October,  1790,  details  some  of  the  dif- 
ficulties he  labored  under.  || 

* About  one-fourtli  mile  East  of  127.  f Penn.  Arcli.,  539-540. 

t Penn.  Arch,  xi,  615.  No  one  appears  to  have  represented  Pennsylvania  how- 

ever. 

§ Penn.  Arch,  xi,  704. 

| See,  also,  Ellicott’s  letter  to  President  Washington,  page  198. 


No.  71.] 


451 


“ I yesterday  completed  the  survey  of  the  territory  annexed  to  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  after  much  difficulty  and  hardship.  The 
land  contained  in  this  survey  is  generally  good,  and  from  its  pecu- 
liar situation  an  important  object  to  the  State The 

Indians  did  not  appear  to  be  well  disposed  toward  the  execution  of 
our  business,  but  after  a treaty,  and  receiving  some  small  presents, 
accompanied  with  rum  and  tobacco,  permitted  us  to  go  on.” 

The  few  details  which  are  known  relating  to  the  survey  of  this 
tract  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  the  Meridian  Boundary.*  No 
report  or  Diary  referring  to  the  work  has  ever  been  found,  and  the 
information  accessible  is  very  meager  and  unsatisfactory.  A refer- 
ence to  Vol.  I of  Regents  Report  on  Boundaries  ( Senate  Doc., 
1873,  N°.  108)  pages  316-329,  will  explain  the  deficiency.  After  the 
survey  was  finished  and  the  boundaries  and  area  of  the  tract  were 
known,  the  negotiations  for  the  purchase  by  Pennsylvania  were 
completed. f 

In  1791  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  passed  the  following 
66  Act  to  authorize  the  Governor  to  compleat  the  purchase  of  a cer- 
tain tract  of  land,  lying  between  Lake  Erie  and  the  northern  bound- 
ary.of  this  Commonwealth. 

“ Whereas,  An  agreement  lias  heretofore  been  entered  into  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  this  State,  respecting  the  purchase  of  a 
certain  tract  of  land,  the  property  of  the  said  United  States  lying 
between  Lake  Erie  and  the  northern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  extent  and  value  of  the  said  tract  of  land  being  now  ascer- 
tained, it  is  proper  to  make  provision  for  carrying  the  said  agree- 
ment into  effect : 

Sect.  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  & Hotjse  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in  General  Assem- 
bly met , and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same , 
That  the  Governor  shall  be  and  he  hereby  is  authorized  and  empow- 
ered, upon  the  part  of  this  commonwealth,  to  do,  execute  and  per- 
form, all  matters  and  things  whatsoever,  which  shall  be  necessary  for 
compleating  the  purchase  of  the  said  tract  of  land,  according  to  the 
terms,  stipulations  and  conditions  of  the  agreement  heretofore  made 
and  entered  into,  as  aforesaid,  between  the  United  States  and  this 
State,  and  thereupon  to  take  and  receive  from  the  said  United 
States,  or  any  person  or  persons  by  them  in  that  behalf 
duly  authorised,  a good  and  sufficient  conveyance  and  assurance,  in 
fee  simple,  of  the  said  tract  of  land,  in  the  name  and  for  the  use  of 
this  Commonwealth. 

“Approved  April  the  thirteenth,  1791. 

Upon  the  5th  of  May  Governor  Mifflin  wrote  Alex’r  Hamilton, 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  “As  I understand  that  the  Quantity  of 

* See  page  198. 

f The  expenditure  of  the  United  States  for  the  Surveys  of  the  Boundary  Line, 
and  of  the  tract  conveyed  to  Pennsylvania  paid,  in  1790  and  1791,  aggregated 
$4049.85,  of  which  $2815.53  were  paid  to  Andrew  Ellicott. 

\ Dallas’  Laws,  iii,  75-70. 


452 


[Senate 


Land  contained  in  the  above  mentioned  tract,  lias  been  ascertained, 
by  actual  survey,  it  is  proper  to  inform  you,  that  I am  ready  on  the 
part  of  Pennsylvania  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  Contract.”* 

The  Governor,  11  June  wrote  Comptroller  Nicholson  of  Pennsyl- 
vania,— 

“Sir,  I have  directed  the  Secretary  to  deliver  to  you,  the  various 
documents,  respecting  the  contract  between  the  United  States  and 
Pennsylvania  for  the  purchase  of  a Tract  of  Land  on  Lake  Erie; 
from  which,  and  from  the  Survey  of  the  Tract,  deposited  in  the  of- 
fice of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  ; you  will  be  pleased  to  state 
and  adjust,  with  the  Auditor  and  Comptroller  General  of  the  United 
States,  an  account  of  the  sum,  either  in  Public  securities  or  in  spe- 
cie, which  will  be  necessary  to  discharge  the  consideration  money, 
according  to  the  terms,  stipulations,  and  conditions  of  the  agreement ; 
and  report  the  same  to  me  with  all  convenient  dispateh.”f 

The  following  is  the  statement  of  Account  which  was  made  out  by 
the  Comptroller  : — 

“ In  pursuance  of  an  agreement  between  the  United  States  & the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  ....  now  that  the  Survey  hath  been 
so  made  and  returned,  and  in  virtue  of  authority  from  his  Excellency 
Tbe  Governor  of  Pennsy’a  to  me  to  state  and  adjust  the  account  of 
the  Sum  to  be  paid  by  the  State  as  aforesaid 

“ I state  the  Account  Following,  viz., 

“ The  Commomoealth  of  Penn?  a 

“ To  the  United  States , Dr 

“For  the  purchase  money  of  the  Territory  & Tract  of  Land 
bounded  as  follows,  ....  of  which  Tract  a survey  and 
Return  hath  been  made  and  returned  into  the  office  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasnrv  according  to  Resolution  of  Congress,  whereby  the 
same  is  found  to  contain  202,187  acres,  which  at  f of  a Doll’r  per 
Acre  payable  according  to  the  terms  of  the  Contract  in  Certificates 
of  the  Debt  of  the  United  States  bearing  an  Annual  Interest  of  3 per 
Centum  is,  151,6404  Doll’rs. 

“Signed,  JOHN  NICHOLSON. 

“ in  behalf  of  Penn’a”.  $ 

Comptroller  Nicholson  made  the  following  Report  to  Governor 
Miffln,  16  Aug. — 

*[Penn.  Arch,  xii,  90.  f Penn.  Arch,  xii,  90,  91. 

t Penn  Arch.,  xi,  055.  According  to  the  accounts  of  the  Register  of  the 


Treasury,  this  amount  was  paid  in  *lie  following  manner 

1 Certificate  of  Registered  Debt  (Interest  from  16  Aug.  1779) $85032.08 

1 Certificate  (Int.  from  21  Aug.  1783)  ...  4285.20 

Accrued  Interest  thereon  to  10  June,  1791 62322.97 


[Penn.  Arch.,  2°  Series,  vi,  630. 


$151640.25 


No.  71.] 


453 


“Sir,  Shortly  after  1 was  honored  with  your  directions  respecting 
the  Account  of  Lake  Erie  purchase;  I obtained  the  quantity  from 
the  Return  in  the  Office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  made 
out  and  exhibited  an  Acct.  thereof  to  the  Auditor’s  Office.  The 
vacancy  therein,  prevented  any  thing  being  done  therewith  — Until 
a few  days  past,  when  upon  the  Secretary’s  suggestion  from  you, 
that  they  were  ready  at  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  to  proceed 
thereon,  I called  there,  and  it  was  determined  that  the  papers  should 
be  sent  to  the  Comptr’s.  Office  that  the  matter  might  be  settled  with- 
out the  help  of  an  Auditor.” 

And  on  22  August  Secretary  Hamilton  addressed  the  Governor 
thus : — “ The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  presents  his  respects  to  the 
Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  has  the  honor  to  inform  him  that  the 
vacancy  in  the  office  of  Auditor,  is  no  impediment  to  the  adjustment 
of  the  affair  of  the  lands  with  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  only  source  of  delay  is  a difference  of  opinion,  concerning  the 
Certificates,  in  which  payment  is  to  be  made ; the  Comptroller  of  the 
Treasury  insisting  that  it  ought  to  be  in  such  certificates  as  bore  in- 
terest at  the  time  of  the  contract,  and  the  Comptroller  General  of 
Pennsylvania  offering  the  funded  three  per  Cents  in  payment.”* 

The  transaction  was  finally  completed  by  the  issue  of  the  following 
Letters  Patent  from  the  United  States  : — 

“ In  the  N a.me  of  the  United  States,  to  all  to  whom  these 
presents  shall  come. 

“ WHEREAS,  by  an  act  of  Congress,  intituled  4 An  act  for  carry- 
ing into  effect  a contract  between  the  United  States  and  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,’  it  was  provided,  that  for  duly  conveying  to  the  said 
State  a certain  tract  of  land,  the  right  to  the  government  and  juris- 
diction whereof  was  relinquished  to  the  said  State,  by  a resolution  of 
Congress,  of  the  fourth  day  of  September,  in  the  year  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight,  and  whereof  the  right  of  soil  has 
been  sold,  by  virtue  of  a previous  resolution  of  Congress,  of  the  sixth 
day  of  June,  in  the  said  year,  the  President  of  the  United  States  be 
authorized,  on  fulfilment  of  the  terms  stipulated  on  the  part  of  the 
said  State,  to  issue  letters  patent,  in  the  name,  and  under  the  seal  of 
the  United  States,  granting  and  conveying  to  the  said  State  forever, 
the  said  tract  of  land,  as  the  same  was  ascertained  by  a survey  made 
in  pursuance  of  the  resolution  of  Congress,  of  the  sixth  of  June,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight. 

“ NOW  KNOW  YE,  that  inasmuch  as  it  appears  by  a certificate 
from  the  Comptroller  of  the  Treasury,  that  the  terms  stipulated  on  the 
part  of  the  said  State  concerning  the  tract  of  land  aforesaid,  have 
been  fulfilled,  according  to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  said 
contract.  I do  by  these  presents,  in  pursuance  of  the  above  recited 
act  of  Congress,  grant  and  convey  to  the  said  State  of  Pennsylvania, 


*Penn.  Arch.  xii.  94. 


454  [Senate 

forever,  the  said  tract  of  land,  as  the  same  was  ascertained  by  the 
survey  aforesaid,  a copy  whereof  is  hereunto  annexed. 

“ In  Testimony  whereof,  I have  caused  these  letters  to  be 
made  patent,  and  have  hereunto  subscribed  my  name  and 
caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed,  at 
[l.  s.]  Philadelphia,  this  third  day  of  March,  in  the  Year  of  our 
Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-two,  and 
of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America 
the  sixteenth. 

“G°  WASHINGTON. 

“ By  the  President,  Th.  Jefferson.”* * * § 

In  order  to  quiet  the  Seneca  Indians  and  to  remove  every  shadow 
of  Complaint  on  their  part,  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature  appropri- 
ated Eight  hundred  dollars  as  a consideration,  for  which  Cornplanter, 
Half-Town  and  Big  Tree,  “ in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  whole 
Seneca  Nation”  executed  a release  to  Governor  Mifflin,  3 Feb., 
1791,  and  for  the  use  of  the  Commonwealth  “ quit-claimed  all  claims 
and  demands  whatsoever  which  on  account  of  any  cause,  matter  or 
thing  whatsoever  they  the  said  Cornplanter,  Half -Town,  and  Big- 
Tree,  and  the  said  Seneca  Nation  have  or  could  or  might  have  had 
against  the  said  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  from  the  beginning 
of  the  world  unto  the  day  of  the  date  of  these  presents ; ” and  pro- 
vided that  it  should  not  be  construed  to  make  void  the  privilege  of 
hunting  reserved  in  the  Cession  of  1784.-f- 

The  State  of  Pennsylvania  owed  the  favorable  consideration  of 
their  proposition  to  purchase  this  tract  from  the  Indians,  in  a great 
measure,  to  the  efforts  of  Cornplanter.  The  Six  Nations,  who  had 
been  hostile  to  the  Americans  during  the  Revolution,  did  not  take 
kindly  to  the  occupation  of  their  territory  by  their  former  enemies, 
and  threw  obstacles  in  the  way  at  every  turn  in  the  negotiation. 

“ After  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty  [of  1784]  the  commissioners 
engaged  Cornplanter  to  make  special  endeavors  to  pacify  his  people, 
the  Senecas  and  others;  as  a compensation  for  which  exertions  a 
special  grant  of  land  was  made  to  him  on  the  Alleghany  river,  within 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  on  which  lie  resided  until  his  death.  But 
his  people  were  not  easily  reconciled  ; and  they  were  yet  more  ex- 
asperated at  the  conduct  of  Cornplanter,  when,  live  years  afterward, 
at  the  treaty  of  Fort  Harmar,];  he  gave  up  a still  larger  portion  of 
their  territory.  He  was  bitterly  reproached  for  this  transaction ; 
his  life  was  even  threatened — a circum- 
stance to  which  he  referred  in  the  pathetic  speech  to  ‘ The  Great 
Counsellor  of  the  Thirteen  Fires’  at  Philadelphia  inT790.”§ 

Gyantwahia,  or  Cornplanter,  was  a Chief  of  the  Senecas,  the  most 

* Penn.  Arch.  xii.  103,  104. 

f Penn.  Arch.,  2°  Series,  vi,  627. 

tThis  was  the  Treaty  by  which  the  Indian  title  to  the  “Erie  Triangle”  was 
extinguished. 

§ Stone's  Life  of  Red  Jacket,  p.  132. 


No.  71.] 


455 


important  tribe  of  the  Six  Nations.  He  was  a half-breed,  the  son  of 
an  Irish  tiader  by  the  name  of  O’Bail,  by  which  name  he  was  fre- 
quently called.  He  was  born  on  the  Genesee  River,  and  before  the 
Revolution  had  become  a chief.  After  peace  was  declared  he  exer- 
ted his  influence  constantly  in  favor  of  the  United  States.  He  died 
in  1836. 

His  Reservation,  now  the  only  remaining  piece  of  land  held  by 
the  aboriginal  occupants  of  the  soil  in  Pennsylvania,  is  situated  upon 
the  west  side  of  the  Allegany  River,  about  3 miles  south  of  the  State 
Line,  below  the  Allegany  Indian  Reservation  in  New  York.  It  con- 
tains about  one  thousand  acres,  a large  proportion  of  which  is  river 
bottom  land.  In  the  southern  portion,  near  the  rude  school  house,  is 
the  burial  ground,  in  the  center  of  which  is  the  grave  of  Cornplanter, 
where  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  has  erected  a marble  monument 
upon  which  are  the  following  inscriptions : — 


[West  Side  on  Shaft.] 


0 


4 


☆ 


the 


CORNPLA  N TP  It 


[West  Side  Pedestal,.] 


A 


DIED 

At  Cornplanter  Town 
Feb.  18  A.  D.  1836. 

about  WO  Years. 


[South  Side  Pedestal.] 

Chief  of  the  Seneca 
tribe  and  a principal 
Chief  of  the  Six  Nations 
from  the  period  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  to  the  time 
of  his  death.  Distinguished 
for  talents , courage , eloquence , 
sobriety  and  love  for  his  tribe 
and  race , to  whose  welfare  he 
devoted  his  time , his  energies  and 
his  means  during  a long  and 
eventful  life. 


456 


[Senate,  No.  71.] 


[East  Side  Pedestal.] 

Erected 

By  authority  of  the 
Legislature  of 
Pennsylvania 
By  act  passed 
Mar.  A.D.  1866. 

[No  inscription  on  North  side.] 


/ 


APPENDIX  N 


MAPS 


OF  THE 

BOUNDARY  LINE 


BETWEEN 


NEW  YORK  AND  PENNSYLVANIA, 


Showing  the  Positions  of  the  Monuments  set  under  the  Direction  of  the  Joint 
Boundary  Commission,  1881—1885. 


Surveyor  on  lie  part  of  New  Yorl. 


Snryeyor  on  lie  part  ol  Pennsylvania. 


COMmS  SIO^EMS  TOfR 


PE  KX^SYLVAN  I A . 




Chairman, 

HARRISBURG-. 

hontrose. 

HONE  SB  ALE. 


COM MISSIOXEK^  I'OB 

^ETfYORK. 


ALBANT. 


CONTENTS 


PARALLEL  BOUNDARY: 

COUNTIES  IN  NEW  YORK.  Pages. 

Delaware,  ....  1 

Broome,  .....  1-7 

Tioga, 8-11 

Chemung,  .....  12-15 

Steuben,  ....  16-22 

Allegany,  ....  23-27 

Cattaraugus,  ....  28-34 

Chautauqua,  ....  35-41 

COUNTIES  IN  PENNSYLVANIA. 

Wayne,  . . . . . 1-2 

Susquehanna,  ....  2-8 

Bradford,  .....  8-15 

Tioga,  .....  15-21 

Potter,  .....  21-27 

McKean,  ....  27-33 

Warren,  .....  33-40 

Erie,  . . . . . 40-4 1 

MERIDIAN  BOUNDARY,  . . . . 42-45 


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INDEX 


PAGE. 

Acts  of  Cession,  various  States  pass. 193 

Acts  of  Connecticut: 

of  Cession 193,  427 

relating  to  grant  of  land  in  Pennsylvania 421 

organizing  town  of  Westmoreland. ...  422 

releasing  jurisdiction  of  “ Western  Reserve  ” 428 

renouncing  Claims  to  Western  Lands 428 

sale  of  Connecticut  Gore 431 

Acts  of  Maryland : 

of  Ratification  of  Articles  of  Confederation 188 

Acts  of  Massachusetts: 

of  Cession 192,  415 

for  Settlement  of  Controversy  with  New  York 411 

Acts  of  New  York: 

in  regard  to  Boundary  Monuments .5,  14,  24 

Reorganizing  Commission,  1880 22,  139 

for  running  and  marking  the  Line,  1785 26,  69 

Appropriating  money,  etc 37 

Providing  for  additional  Commissioners.. 80 

of  Confirmation,  not  passed 98 

Revised  Statutes 98,.  99 

Providing  for  Military  Bounty  Lands 112 

for  preservation  of  Records  of  Holland  Land  Company. .....  119 

to  provide  for  settlement  of  Boundary,  1880 139 

of  Cession  of  Western  Lands 181,415,  438 

relating  to  re-survey  of  Boundary 212-215 

Appointing  agents  to  settle  Massachusetts  Claim 410 

Intrusion  (1796)...  433 

to  finally  settle  Controversy  with  Connecticut 436 

Acts  of  Pennsylvania: 

in  regard  to  Boundary  Monuments 25,  153 

to  appoint  Boundary  Commissioners  (1785) 26,  TO 

Confirming  the  Boundary  (178H) . . 97,  130 

organizing  McKean  and  Warren  County  Line  Commission..  121 

relating  to  re-survev  of  Boundary 215-218 

to  restore  lands  to  Connecticut  Claimants 425 

for  Confirmation  of  Connecticut  titles 426 

Compensation  to  Pennsylvania  Claimants 426 

to  complete  purchase  of  Erie  Lands 445,  451 

[Sen.  Doc.  Not  71.]  58 


458  [Senate 

Acts  of  United  States:  page. 

relating  to  survey  of  Allegany  Indian  Reservation 122. 

Accepting  Cession  of  New  York 193 

Appointing  Commissioners  in  Controversy  between  Connecti- 
cut and  Pennsylvania 423 

Accepting  Cession  of  Connecticut 428 

Acts  of  Virginia : 

Cession  of  Western  Lands 187 

Adams,  John,  United  States  Minister 185,  186 

Adjustment,  discussion  of  proper  method 138 

Obstacles  in  the  way  of  new 143 

Final,  of  Parallel  Boundary 154 

Methods  of 156 

west  of  Milestone  208 156,  171 

Final,  of  Meridian  Boundary 207,  209 

Adlum,  John,  surveys  Drinker’s  Lands 102 

lays  out  an  interfering  Warrant 107 

appointed  Deputy  Surveyor 108 

runs  the  West  line  of  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase 108,  113 

foot-note  relating  to 108 

Extract  from  notes  of. . 113 

S.  W.  corner  of  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase  fixed  by.. . 115,  3i6 
Africa,  J.  Simpson,  Secretary  of  Internal  Affairs  of  Pennsylvania, 

initiates  transfer  of  surveys  to  record  books 107 

Agreement,  Final,  in  Settlement  of  Boundary  (1886) 24 

between  Commissioners  from  Massachusetts  and  New  York.  411 

between  Indians  and  Pennsylvania  Commissioners 446 

Albany,  31,  32,  43,  47,  56,  71,  72,  112,  203,  279,  289,  290,  313,  394,  421 

431,  450 

Prosperity  of,  in  danger 45 

Gov.  Hamilton  claims  North  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania  near 

latitude  of ...51,  53 

Treaty  of,  1754 55,  145 

Piece  of  Eighth  Latitude  Stone  in  State  Library  at 91 

5-mile  post  in  State  Library  at 205 

Maps  in  State  Library  at 390  et  seq+ 

Alexander,  James: 

letter  to  Governor  Hamilton 51 

Biographical  foot-note 52 

Allegany  County,  N.  Y 274,  275,  280 

Early  land  surveys  in 114 

New  monuments  along 165-168,  173 

Description  of  locations  of  new  monuments  along .239-244 

Angles  and  distances  along 267 

County  and  Town  corners 281 

Augustus  Porter’s  survey  along 316,  317 

Record  of  Holland  Land  Company’s  Surveys  along 318-324 

Connecticut  claim  to  lands  in 429  et  scq~ 

Allegany  Indian  Reservation 455 

Survey  of  South  line  of 118 

U.  S.  Commission  to  re-survey 122 

New  Monuments  along 169,  290 


No.  71.] 


459 


Allegany  Indian  Reservation  — ( Continued) : page. 

iron  Monuments 250,  343,  348 

corner  of 343 

surveyed  by  R.  M.  Stoddard . 350 

Allegany  Mountains 55,  181,  193 

Alleganv  River..  .74,  91,  92,  95,  309,  121,  122,  135,  244,  250,  276,  288 

384,  389,  440,  447 

Milestone  on  bank  of 167,  244,  385 

a town  line 284 

Cornplanter’s  Reservation  on 454,  455 

Allegany  Valley 128 

Allen,  Ethan,  in  Pennsylvania 425 

Angular  Deflections,  Table  of 263-270 

Angular  Points  not  marked  with  Monuments 163,  164,  235,  237 

Apalachin  Creek 229 

Flats,  Correction  Station  on,  1786 88 

Valley 127,  132 

Appendix 211  et  seq. 

Armstrong,  William 99,  439 

Commissary  for  Pennsylvania  Commissioners 81 

describes  the  Lake  Erie  country v5,  440 

Astronomical  observations  of  Rittenhouse  and  Holland 64 

Instrument  purchased  by  temporary  line  Commissioners. ...  71 

Instrument,  Dr.  Rittenhouse  writes  relative  to 72 

observations,  results  of,  1787  82 

Results  of  observations  1786-87,  Ellicott’s  letter  detailing,  84-93 

observations,  smoke  affects  accuracy  of 85 

Instruments  used  by  Ellicott 94 

observations,  stars  used  in 94 

observations  of  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey. . . 127 

results  not  exact 142 

parallel  through  Lawrenceville,  etc 144 

Stations,  Monuments  for 154,  155,  221 

observations  of  Dr.  Peters 37,  175,  278 

length  of  Meridian  Boundary 209 

Stations  (1877-79),  detailed  Schedule  of 271-9 

results  in  1877-79 271-9 

results  at  Lake  Erie,  variation  in ...  279 

Athens,  certified  township  of 110 

survey  of 426 

Atherton,  Phineas 104 

Atwater,  Amzi,  Surveyor  for  Holland  Land  Company 117,  118 

Austinburg,  Astronomical  Station  ..127,  133,  163,  164,  165,  237,  266 

Detailed  record  of 274 

Bancker,  Evert,  Speaker  of  New  York  Assembly 181 

Gerard,  Treasurer  of  New  York 96,  415 

Bath,  N.  Y.,  Land  Office  of  Pulteney  Estate  at 113,  114 

Baylor,  John  B.,  Sub-Assist.,  U.  S.  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey,  271,  287 

Bear  Lake 255 

Beattie,  John,  furnishes  new  Monuments 154 

Beech  stump,  “ cut  high  for  ye  observation,”  1774 65,  129,  299 


460 


[Senate 


PAGE. 

Bennett  Brook, ' 247,  638 

Bentley  Creek 233,  273 

Benton,  Stephen,  Jr.,  Surveyor  for  Holland  Land  Company 118 


Bingham’s  Patent 58,  103 

Bingham,  William,  granted  Warrants  in  Pennsylvania 109 

Estate  of,  Re-surveys 108,  109,  110,  115 

Delegate  in  Congress 442 

Bird  Creek 234 

Black  Brook 260,  378 

Blake,  Francis,  Jr.,  Assistant  U.  S.  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey,  124 

Bly,  New  York  State  Survey  Station 1.  164 

Bolivar  Brook 247,  336 

Boundaries,  Meridian  and  Parallel.  (See  Meridian  Boundary  and 
Parallel  Boundary.) 

Scientific,  impossible 17,  141 

all  East  and  West.,  Crooked 142 

Boundary,  Indian,  1768  56,  57 

described  in  Revised  Statutes  of  New  York*. 98 

in  Delaware  River  not  defined 100,  101 

Early  land  surveys  along 101 

Ex  parte  official  Examinations  along 119 

between  English  and  French,  suggested  by  William  Penn...  176 
Boundary,  Northern,  of  Pennsylvania  : 

described  in  charter 7,  40 

run  in  1786-7 7 

Initial  point  fixed,  1774 7,  63 

found  not  to  follow  the  parallel 9 

Monuments  many  of  them  lost 9 

Pennsylvania  Commissioners  desire  its  correction. 9,  13,  14®,  152 

History  of 18 

accepted  as  Southern  Boundary  of  New  York 41 

exhibited  on  Early  Maps 47,  390  et  seq. 

described  by  Lords  of  Trade 49 

Lieut. -Governor  Hamilton 50 

Governor  Moore 57 

the  Proprietaries - 60 

Action  of  New  York  Council  in  1774 6i 

necessary  to  be  immediately  ascertained 67 

Commission  appointed  to  run  temporary  line 68 

permanent  line  provided  for  by  New  York 69 

new  Commission  appointed  by  Pennsylvania 70 

rough  Map  of,  by  Palmer 75 

Survey  of  1786-7 76 

referred  to  by  Ellicott  87 

Military  Land  Warrants  based  upon 103 

finally  established 438 

(See  Parallel  Boundary.) 

Boutelle,  Capt.  C.  O.,  reminiscence  of  Daniel  Webster 150 

Boyle,  John,  a Pennsylvania  Surveyor 102 

Bradford  County,  Penn 43,  173,  273,  280 


No.  71.] 


461 


Bradford  County — ( Continued ):  page. 

Warrants  in,  based  on  temporary  State  line 75 

Maclay’s  temporary  line  in 75 

Early  land  surveys  in , 104,  107,  108 

Rose  Estate  in Ill 

N.  Y.  State  Survey  Station  in 128,  277 

New  Monuments  along 160,  163 

Description  of  locations  of 229-234 

Angles  and  Distances  along 264,  265 

County  and  Town  Corners 283 

Connecticut  Townships  in 424 

Bradford,  William ✓ 104 

Brady,  William  R.,  Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor : 

Surveys  of,  interfere  with  New  York 109 

District  of . . 122 

Warrant  line  of,  still  plain 135 

Broadhead,  John,  Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor . ..  108 

Brokenstraw,  Big,  Creek 255,  256,  368,  370 

Little,  Creek 254,  365 

Broome  County,  N.  Y 112,  156,  173,  272,  400,  431 

East  line  of,  part  of  “ Line  of  Property  ” 57 

Early  land  surveys  in 58,  73,  75,  102-106 

Early  Surveys  in,  based  on  Palmer’s  line 73 

Hooper’s  location  of  Indian  Boundary  in 58 

Hooper’s  temporary  line  along 75 

Supervisors  of  three  towns  in,  cause  corners  to  be  located. . . 123 

South  East  point  of 128 

New  Monuments  along . 157-159 

Description  of  locations  of 224-229 

Angles  and  distances  along 263 

County  and  Town  Corners 280 

Geo.  Palmer’s  Surveys  along 304,  305 

Lands  in,  ceded  to  Massachusetts 411 

Connecticut  claims  to  land  in 429 

Bull,  William  H.,  strikes  random  line  of  1787  89 

Surveyor  upon  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase  114 

Burke,  Edmund 185 

Burt,  Astronomical  Station,  127,  128,  133, 143,  161, 162,  163,  233,  265 

Detailed  Record  of 273 

Butler,  Richard,  Commissioner  to  purchase  Lake  Erie  Lands,  197,  445 

Indian  Deed  to 448,  450 

Canada  Boundary 16,  17,  185 

Canan,  John,  Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor 109 

Canoes,  Commissioners  obliged  to  make 92 

Carroll,  Charles 114 

Cary,  Ebenezer,  a Surveyor  for  Holland  Land  Company ....  118,  387 


Cascade  Creek 305 

Valley 157,  225 

Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y 9,  122,  173,  275,  280 

Section  of  Boundary  adjacent  to,  omitted  in  1878 8,  127 


462 


[Senate 


Cattaraugus  County  — ( Continued) : page. 

Early  land  Surveys  in 116-119 

Brady’s  District  in  Pennsylvania  along 119 

New  Monuments  along 167-171 

Description  of  locations  of .244-251 

Angles  and  distances  along 267  268 

County  and  Town  Corners 282 

Record  of  Holland  Land  Company’s  Surveys  along 324-350 

Connecticut  claim  to  lands  in 429 

Ceres.  Astronomical  Station 127,  165,  167,  168,  243,  267 

Detailed  Record  of 275 

Village  of,  church  in lo5,  167,  243 

line  through  mills  in  144 

Cerestown  386 

Cession,  Line  of.  ( See  Meridian  Boundary.) 

Chapin,  Gen.  Israel,  represents  Phelps  and  Gorham  upon  Sur- 
vey of  Meridian  Boundary , 198 

Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y 39,  92,  121,  123,  278,  280 

Early  land  Surveys  in 118 

Interference  of  Pennsylvania  Donation  Lands  in 120 

Hinckley’s  reconnaissance  of  Boundary  along. ........ .120,  204 

State  Line  tree 136 

Discrepancy  in  distance  along 136 

New  Monuments  along 169-173,  209 

Survey  of  Meridian  Boundary  along 203 

Description  of  locations  of  new  Monuments  along  (Parallel 

Boundary) 251-258 

Description  of  locations  of  new  Monuments  along  (Meridian 

Boundary) 258-262 

Angles  and  distances  along 269,  270 

County  and  Town  Corners 282,  285 

Record  of  Holland  Land  Company’s  Surveys  along 350-383 

Connecticut  claims  to  lands  in 429  et  seq. 

Chautauqua  Lake 392,  396,  439 

Signification  of  name 197 

mentioned  in  Indian  treaty 447 

Chemung  County,  N.  Y 173,  273,  280 

Early  laud  Surveys  in 112 

New  Monuments  along 161-163 

Description  of  locations  of 232-234 

Angles  and  distances  along 265 

County  and  Town  Corners 281 

Lands  in,  ceded  to  Massachusetts 411 

Connecticut  claims  to  lands  in 429  et  seq. 

Chemung  Flats 75 

New  Monuments  upon 154,  161,  232 

Chemung  River,  Correction  Station  on  bank  of  (1786) 88 

Surveys  near 110,  112 

Monuments  on  bank  of 133,  154,  161,  232 

a County  Boundary 281 

Chemung,  Town  of,  laid  out 112 

Field  book  referred  to 112 


PAGE. 


Chenango,  Indian  Village 57,  86,  87,  401 

Cherry  stump  identified  by  Mr.  Hinckley 137,  172,  257,  371 

Chipmunk  Run 246 

Choconut,  Creek 228 

Indian  Village 57 

Clark,  Astronomical  Station j . . . 127,  145,  172,' 204,  257,  269 

Detailed  Record  of 278 

Clarke,  H.  Wadsworth,  appointed  Surveyor  on  part  of  New  York,  7 

9,  37,  286 

requested  to  take  entire  charge  of  Field-work 8 

Reports  referred  to 9,  11,  12,  20,  39,  140 

Preliminary  letter  of,  Surveyor 31 

attends  meeting  at  Initial  Point 124 

letter  upon  policy  of  re-adjustment  of  the  Boundary 143 

Instructions  to 219 

Certificate  to  Schedule  of  Monuments 262 

Clifton  Springs,  N.  Y,,  Joint  Boundary  Commission  meets  at.  . . 8 

Clinton,  George.  Governor  of  Province  of  New  Yrork  : 

describes  the  Boundaries  of  the  Province 46 

transmits  Gov.  Hamilton’s  letter 50 

communicates  action  of  New  York  Council  to  Gov.  Hamil- 
ton   53 

Clinton,  George,  Governor  of  State  of  New  York 18 

transmits  act  providing  for  a permanent  line 69 

announces  the  appointment  of  Commissioners 71 

announces  claim  of  Massachusetts 409 

announces  settlement  of  controversy 414 

Clinton,  James 19,  26,  83,  94,  97,  99 

Biographical  foot-note 71 

appointed  Boundary  Commissioner 18,  71 

surveys  Hooper’s  2,000-Acre  tract 73,  102 

sisrns  report  of  Survey  of  1786  77 

Bill  of  expanses 78 

Commissioner  to  allot  “ Town  of  Chemung” 112 

Coast  Survey,  etc.  [See  United  States.) 

Cochran,  John,  examines  interference  of  Donation  Lands. . . .74,  120 

finds  no  mile-posts 118 

return  of  the  survey - 120 


gives  distance  between  “Corner  ” and  225-mile  point,  172,  202,  258 
Colden,  Cadwallader,  Surveyor-General  of  New  York  : 

describes  Boundaries  of  New  YorK. . . .46,  49 

Governor  of  New  York,  letter  relative  to  joint  action  of  Colo- 
nies, 1774  62 

transmits  action  of  New  York  Council  to  Pennsylvania 63 

reports  results  of  Rittenhouse  and  Holland  at  Initial  Point. . 66 

Columbia,  District  of,  Surveyed  by  Andrew  Ellicott 94 

Commissioners,  Boundary.  ( See  Joint  Boundary  Commission; 
also  New  York,  ancl  Pinnsyl vania.) 

Compass  used  upon  Survev  of  1786-7 85 

Conewango  River,  74,  91, 92“  95, 110, 194, 197,  252, 351, 439, 440, 447,  450 
a town  line 282 


464  [Senatk 

PAGE- 

Conewango  Swamp 352 

Valley,  discrepancy  in  distance  across 136 

New  Monuments  in 252 

Confederation,  Articles  of,  Discussion  over 178  et  seq» 

Act  to  facilitate  completion  of 18x 

Congress.  (See  United  States.) 

Connecticut,  Boundary  line  settled 15,  20 

Simmons’  opinion  on  Boundary  question 146 

requested  to  release  Western  Lands 190 

Cedes  lands  West  of  New  York 193 

Western  Reserve  of 193,  424,  428 

Claim  to  lands  in  Pennsylvania . .417-428 

Charter  of 418,  427,  429 

Petition  to  General  Assembly  of,  for  grant  of  lands  in  Penn- 
sylvania  419 

organizes  a town  and  County  in  Pennsylvania 422 

townships  in  Pennsylvania 424 

offers  to  cede  lands  in  United  States 427 

final  act  of  Cession . 428 

Gore  in  New  York 429-437 

opinions  of  lawyers  on  claims  of 430 

conveys  land  in  New  York 431 

Land  Company  organized 432. 

Claimants  bring  suits  of  ejectment. 434 

Legislature  appoints  Commissioners  to  negotiate  with  New 

York 435 

Land  Company  petitions  New  York  Legislature 43? 

Cook,  Moses  B.,  a surveyor 104 

Coon  Brook 242,  323 

Cooper,  William  105,  106,  114 

Cornell,  Alonzo  B.,  Governor  of  New  York,  transmits  documents 

to  Governor  of  Pennsylvania 152 

“Corner,”  South  West,  of  New  York,  original  Monument  at  ... . 99 

maple  post  at 118,  203,  370 

Cochran’s  location  of 120,  202,  258 

Boundary  near 127,  136 

distance  to 138,  204 

New  Monuments  at 155,  172,  207,  220,  258,  262,  285 

end  of  Twelfth  Section 171 

Stone  at 206 

variation  of  Meridian  Boundary  at 208 

angle  at 269 

Latitude  of 27? 

Corners  of  Counties  and  Towns 2&0-285 

Cornplanter  favors  the  object  of  Boundary  Surveyors 92 

and  other  chiefs  Deed  to  United  States 19? 

Deed  to  Pennsylvania,  of  Erie  lands 448 

Grant  of  land  to,  recommended 449 

and  other  chiefs  quit-claim  to  Pennsylvania 454 

Biographical  sketch 454 

Reservation 455 


No.  71.] 


465 


Corn  plan  ter  — * ( Continued ) : page. 

monument  to,  described 455 

Correspondence,  relative  to  rectification  of  the  Boundary.  9, 14, 141,  152 

relative  to  condition  of  the  Boundary 38 

relative  to  Ellicott’s  papers 83,  198,  451 

Corydon,  Astronomical  Station 128,  135,  168,  169,  171,  250,  267 

Detailed  Record  of 275 

County  and  Town  Corners,  Schedule  of 280,  285 

Cowanesqua  River 91,  127,  235,  238,  274 

Surveys  along 108 

Flats,  line  across 89,  106,  107,  133 

Coxe’s  Manor  located 58 

Coxe,  Tench,  letter  to  Gov.  Mifflin 196,  449 

Crandall  Creek 241,  317 

Crosby,  Wm.  A.,  courtesy  acknowledged 32 

re-surveys  town  lines  of  Potter  County 123 

Crothers,  Anthony,  Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor 102,  107,  312 

Cryder  Creek ..." " ". 240,  316 

Davis,  Thomas,  comes  to  random  line  of  1787 90 

Surveyor  upon  Phelps  and  Gorham  Purchase 113 

Deep  Hollow  Creek  225 

Deer  Lick  Creek 254,  365 

Deflections,  Angular,  Table  of 263-270 

Delaware  County,  N.  Y 124,  173 

Station  Travis  in 127,  271 

New  Monuments  in 158,  224 

Delaware  River,  the  boundary  of 280 

Delaware  River. 3,  5,  7,  19,  26,  39,  40,  41,  44,  46,  47,  48,  49,  59,  62 

67,  73,84,  98,  107,  174,  220,  263,  291,  390,  403,  407,  412 

Boundary  line  in,  fixed  (1885) 25 

Western  limit  of  New  York 40,  46,  185,  429 

Fort  upon  43 

part  of  Indian  Boundary,  1768 57 

Initial  Point  on,  fixed,  1774 63 

Rittenhouse  and  Palmer’s  survey  of 65,  292 

Commissioners  commence  survey  at,  1786 77 

Note  of  revisers  of  New  York  Statutes  upon 100 

Location  of  various  boundaries  along 101 

Boundary  fixed  in,  between  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania. . 101 

appearance  at  Initial  Point 124 

original  flats  at 128 

floods  in 129,  130 

New  Initial  Monument  at 154,  220,  222,  224 

distance  of  Station  Travis  from 203,  271 

a County  Boundary 280 

Palmer’s  traverse  of 292-303 

Journal  up,  by  George  Palmer 303 

Drake  and  Delong  reach 307 

Field  notes  of  Warrants  on 312 

a Charter  Boundary 403 

Winthrop  builds  a fort  upon 419 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  59 


[Senate 


466 

Delaware  River  — ( Continued)  : page. 

Connecticut  purchase  on 420 

Delaware  Tract 102 

Yellow  birch  tree.  South  East  corner  of 125,  131 

Delong,  John,  Journal  up  Susquehanna  and  across  to  Delaware. . 308 
Depew,  Chauncey  M.,  Commissioner  for  New  York.. 5,  6,  23,  39,  286 

signs  Final  Agreement 29 

Deposit,  N.  Y 105,  129,  224,  400 

results  for  magnetic  declination  at 126 

Dewees,  William 107 

Dewey,  James,  a Surveyor  for  Holland  Land  Company 118 

De  Witt,  Charles,  letter  of 400 

Dc  Witt,  Moses,  additional  Surveyor 79 

surveyed  Military  locations  in  Chemung  and  Tioga  Counties.  Ill 

fooc-note  relative  to Ill 

Surveyor  of  Town  of  Chemung 112 

De  Witt,  Simeon 19,  26,  72;  94,  97,  99 

Biographical  foot-note 80 

appointed  Boundary  Commissioner 18,  71 

signs  report  of  Survey  of  1786 77 

transmits  report  to  Gov.  Clinton 77 

transmits  bill  of  expenses 78 

inability  to  act,  1787  80 

takes  a picture  of  an  Indian  Maiden 86,  88 

reports  upon  deficiencies  in  patents 105 

note  on  variation  of  the  needle 106 

certifies  to  Ellicott’s  Survey  of  new  Pre-emption  Line 416 

Dexter,  Stephen,  a Surveyor 103 

‘‘Diary  of  Operations”  (contains  detailed  record  of  all  original 

Monuments  found) 28,  32 

Dickinson,  Governor,  of  Pennsylvania 18,  69,  72,  78 

transmits  action  of  General  Assembly 68 

announces  names  of  new  Commissioners 70 

directs  Commissioners  to  proceed  to  Virginia  line 72 

Disks  used  for  underground  marks 220,  223 

Distances  along  Boundary,  Table  of 263-270 

Documents,  official,  of  the  Commission  filed 29 

accompanying  Surveyor’s  Report 33 

previous  reports  published  in 37,  39 

Donation  Lands,  Pennsylvania,  surveyed  by  David  Watts 74 

Map  and  Boundaries  of ....  74 

encroach  on  New  York  territory. 74 

referred  to 110,  120,  202,  258 

Dongan,  Governor,  Thomas,  reports  on  encroachments  of  the 

Penns 41,  43 

superseded  by  Andros 44 

Douglass  Military  Location Ill 

old  Monument  on 132,  160,  231 

Douglass,  William,  Historian,  describes  boundaries  of  New  York.  47 

criticises  maps  of  the  Colonies 398 

Drake,  William,  Journal  up  Susquehanna  and  across  to  Delaware.  308 
Drinker’s  Starrucca  Tract 102,  107 


No.  71.] 


467 


PAGE. 

Duane,  James,  Delegate  from  New  York 27,  410 

announces  action  of  Maryland 188,  410 

Dudley  Observatory 38 

DuelPs,  Cass,  “shanties” 248 

Dutch  m New  Netherland 176,  402,  419 

Edgar,  Patent 103 

Tract,  deficiency  in 103,  105 

Ellice,  Sir  Edward.  114 

Tract,  Monument  at  Corner  of 239. 

Ellicott,  Andrew.  ..12,  19,  26,  77,  97,  98,  99,  100,  204,  209,  279,  317 

439 

Biographical  foot-note 194 

Commissioner  on  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  Boundary  .19,  72,  76 


signs  report  of  Survey  of  1786.  . . 77 

letter  upon  preparations  for  1787 80 

draws  on  Dr.  Rittenhouse  for  funds 81 

signs  report  of  1787 81 

proposes  to  arrange  his  notes  for  Pennsylvania 83 

his  papers  not  to  be  found  83,  198 

letter  to  Robert  Patterson 77,  84,  201 

letter  to  his  wife 85 

reports  progress  from  Conewango 91 

laid  ont  village  of  Warren,  Pennsylvania 92 

and  Porter  announce  completion  of  Survey 93 

surveys  District  of  Columbia 94 

invents  U S.  System  of  land  Surveys 116 

appointed  deputy  Geographer  of  the  United  States 194 

•states  difficulties  in  way  of  Survey 195 

asks  for  funds 196 

appointed  Surveyor  by  President  Washington 197 

asks  for  surveying  instruments 197 

letter  to  Governor  Mifflin 197 

Correspondence  relative  to  papers  of 198,  451 

sets  out  to  survey  Line  of  Cession 198 

letter  to  President  Washington. . 198 

not  allowed  to  make  observations  on  British  territory 199 

Gen.  Stuart’s  sketch  of 201 

runs  the  Meridian 201 

describing  instruments  used 94,  201 

announces  completion  of  survey 202 

payments  for  surveying 202 

transit  owned  by 416 

surveys  Pre-emption  line 416 

asked  for  opinion  on  Erie  country  444 

appointed  to  Survey  the  Erie  lands 450 

Ellicott,  Benjamin,  runs  Eastern  Transit  Meridian 116 

accompanies  Andrew  Ellicott  to  Niagara 198 

runs  New  Pre-emption  line 416 

makes  a Map  of  Erie  Lands 446 


468 


[Senate 


PAGE. 

Ellicott,  Joseph,  Chief  Surveyor  for  the  Holland  Land  Company.  115 

119,  203,  315,  417 

adopts  system  of  Surveys  now  used  by  the  United  States. ...  116 

accompanies  Andrew  Ellicott  to  Niagara 198 

Ellis,  A.  R.,  old  Surveyor  of  Broome  County 159 

Ellis,  William,  Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor 108,  109 

Elkland,  Pennsylvania 91,  236 

Elmira,  longitude  of,  determined 38 

greatest  variation  South  of 89,  133 

Station  Burt  South  East  of 127 

irregular  Curve  South  of  . . 162 

Erie  County,  Penn .93,  276,  280 

Donation  Land  Surveys  in 74,  110,  120,  202 

recent  surveys  of  Town  lines  in 123 

New  Monuments  along 172-3,  209 

Samuel  Nicholson  subdivides  Erie  Triangle  in 202 

Description  of  the  locations  of  new  Monuments  along  . . .256-262 

Angles  and  distances  along 269-270 

County  and  Town  Corners 284-285 

History  of  the  Erie  Triangle 438  et  seq. 

Erie,  Lake.  ( See  Lake  Erie.) 

Erie  Triangle,  divided  into  Warrants 202 

Historical  Sketch 438  et  seq. 

Estimate  of  expense  of  purchase * 440,  444 

Treaty  with  Indians  for 446 

price  paid  for 452 

Ean-tail  Corner 132,158,  226 

Fatzinger,  Jacob,  Jr.,  papers  of,  deposited  with  Historical  Society 

of  Pennsylvania 32,  65,  73,  75,  291 

Field  Notes  of  George  Palmer 73,  292  et  seq . 

of  Ellicott  not  to  be  found 83,  198,  451 

of  William  Macclure 105 

of  Deputy  Surveyors  not  returned 106 

of  Bingham  estate.....  Ill 

of  Zephon  Flower 114,  160 

of  Holland  Land  Company’s  Surveys 119,  313,  316  et  seq ; 

lack  of,  quite  embarrassing 156 

of  re-survev  of  Keating  Estate 384  et  seq. 

Finn,  Astronomical  Station 127,  132,  145,  158,227,  264 

Detailed  Record  of 272 

Finn  James 272 

Fish,  Nicholas •••  105 

Fletcher,  Benjamin,  Commissioned  Governor  of  New  York,  etc. . 48 

Flower,  Zephon,  Surveys  Banyar  Tract 114 

extract  from  notes  of 114 

Papers  of,  in  possession  of  his  grandson 160 

Floyd,  Nicol 105 

Foote,  E.  T.,  letter  of  reminiscences  of  Ellicott 92 

refers  to  “state  line  tree.”. 136,  170 

Fort  Harmar 446,  454 


No.  71.] 


469 


PAGE. 

Fort  Herkimer,  treaty  of 104 

Fort  Niagara 195,  393,  448 

Andrew  Ellicott  at 198,  199 

Fort  Stanwix,  Treaty  of 55,  58,  405 

Error  in  treaty 59 

second  treaty  of 448 

Foulke,  William,  a Surveyor 10^9 

French  Creek 95,  257,  258,  260,  282,  376,  378,  440 

Flats,  Correction  Station  on,  1787  93 

Gardiner,  James  T.,  Director  New  York  State  Survey. 124 

Letter  of,  to  Chancellor  Pierson 141 

Genesee,  Little,  Creek 243,  323,  387 

Genesee  Rivei 91,  113,  127,  200,  240,  274,  316,  317,  415,  455 
Genesee  Valley  Astronomical  Sta.,127,  133,  134,  164, 165,  166, 240,  267 

Detailed  Record  of.  274 

Gere,  Christophei  M.,  Commissioner  for  Pennsylvania,  6,  26, 28,39,  286 

appointed  Surveyor  for  Pennsylvania 7 

retires  from  field  duty 8 

signs  Final  Agreement 29 

concurs  in  Surveyor’s  Final  Report 53 

present  at  Initial  Point,  1877  124,  125 

locates  site  of  Milestone  21 132,  159 

Instructions  to 219 

Gibson,  Gen.  John,  Commissioner  to  purchase  Erie  lands  from 

Indians 197,  445 

Indian  Deed  to 448,  450 

Gore,  Connecticut 329  ct  seq. 

( See  Connecticut.) 

Gray,  William,  continues  Palmer's  line  West 74 

appointed  Deputy  Surveyor 107 

Hale’s  Eddy,  N.  Y 5,  224,  271,  286 

Commissioners  meet  at 7 

separate  at 125 

Haisey  and  Ward  purchase  Connecticut  Gore 431 

organize  a land  company 432 

Iiambdeu,  Township  of,  New  York 105 

Hamilton  College,  Trustees,  detail  Dr  Peters  for  Astronomical 

work  upon  the  Boundary 175 

Hamilton,  James,  Lieut.-Governor  of  Penn. 42,  49,  291,  390,  394,  421 

letter  claiming  Boundary  in  latitude  of  Albany 50 

reports  Johnson’s  intended  location  on  the  Susquehanna. ...  52 

describes  the  Boundaries  of  Pennsylvania 52 

Report  ot  New  York  Committee  on  letter  of 53 

Hamlin,  A.  D.,  County  Line  Commissioner  and  Surveyoi,  Penn  . . 121 

Hammond.  Abijah  • 105 

Hancock,  N.  Y.,  Commissioners  meet  at 124 

Hardenbergh,  Abraham 19,  26,  94,  98,  99,  100 

Boundary  Commissioner  in  place  ol  James  Clinton 77,  80 

Surveyor  in  1786 78 


470  [Senate 

Hardenbergh,  Abraham  — ( Continued ) : page. 

signs  report  of  Survey,  1787 mm,,  ......  81 

letter  from,  to  Gov.  Clinton  81 

Hare  Creek 251,  375 

Harrisburg,  Penn 9,  39,  286,  288 


Harrisburg  Run ..243,  332 

Harrison,  Gen.  Wm.  H 116 

Harriss,  John  Adolphus,  Lieut.-Colonel  commanding  at  Fort 

Niagara 199,  201 

refuses  Ellicott  permission ' 199 

Heise,  David,  furnishes  Extracts  from  Tioga  County  Records 123 

Herrick  Run 257,  374 

Highway  Monuments  described 220,  222 

Hinckley,  Otis  D.,  courtesy  acknowledged 32 

reconnaissance  of  Boundary  adjoining  Chautauqua  County..  120 

interested  in  the  present  Survey 123 

locates  points  from  original  witnesses 126,  139 

locates  point  for  Prendergast’s  Monument . . 170 

identifies  points  on  Meridian  Boundary 204 

his  notes  referred  to,  171,  251,  253,  255,  347,  350,  351,  355,  356 

357,  358,  361,  362,  371,  372,.  373,  377 

Holden  Creek  237 

Holland,  Edward 53 

Holland  Land  Company,  surveys  of,  commenced 74,  113 

purchases  large  tract  from  Robert  Morris 115,  417 

Joseph  Ellicott,  Surveyor  for 115,  119 

Surveys  of  lands  of 116 

South-east  Corner  Monument 116,.  134 

Field  Notes  and  Records  in  Albany 119,  313,  417 

Corners  in  . ; . 134,  135,  169,  172,  173 

Monuments * 137,  166 

Surveyor  locates  Milestone  153. 167 

Discrepancies  in  field-notes  of 118,  168,314,  345 

Mile  posts  on  Boundary 170,  171,  209,  261 

Map  of  Meridian  Boundary 202 

Extracts  from  Field  books  and  Records  of  Surveys 313-383 

Holland,  Samuel  ...  .19,  26,  65,  66,  73,  84,  97,  99,  124,  129,  130,  304 

appointed  Commissioner  for  New  York,  1774  18,  63,  100 

signs  report  upon  Initial  Monument  at  Delaware 64 

allowance  for  Services 67 

Maps  by 198,  400 

Honeoye  Creek 116,  317,  320 

Correction  Station  near,  1787 00 

Crooked  line  across  valley  of 134 

New  Monuments  upon  flats  of 242 

Hooper,  Robert  Lettis,  runs  the  Indian  cession  line,  1774 5*8,  103 

locates  Military  Land  Warrants 59,  75,  100 

temporary  line  in  Bradford  County,  Pennsylvania 75,  104 

takes  conveyances  of  lands  laid  out  by  himself 104 

line  shown  on  map 401 

Hooper’s  2000- Acre  Tract 73,  102, 103,  226 


No.  71.] 


471 


PAGE. 

Hooper,  Wilson  and  Bingham’s  Patent 103,  411 

Hoops,  Adam,  record  of  Survey  of  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase,  1*13 

a member  of  General  Sullivan’s  staff  113 

Surveyor  for  Robert  Morris 415 

Hornby,  John,  lands  of 114 

Horse  Run ...  242,  321 

Horses,  failure  and  death  of 91 

Hoyt,  Henry  M.,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  quoted  relative  to 

Penn’s  claim  north  of  42° 55 

Message  to  Pennsylvania  Legislature 153 

Account  of  Pennsylvania’s  Controversy  with  Connecticut. ..  422 

Conclusions  upon  the  subject 428 

Hulbert,  Christopher,  a Surveyor 114 

Hulce,  Martial  R 32 

Macclure’s  papers  in  possession  of v . 105 

Results  of  observation  for  declination  by 126 

Letter  from,  on  position  of  Initial  Point 129 

a native  of  Deposit,  New  York 129 

can  show  position  of  Meridian  mark  at  Station  Travis 224 

Hunter,  James,  Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor 109 

Hutchins,  Thomas,  Geographer  General  of  the  United  States.  194,  198 

foot-note  upon 196 

Commissioner  to  run  Massachusetts  Boundary 411 

Indian  Creek -. 109,  245,  329,  331,  386 

Indian  Treaty  of  1768  55 

Boundary  of  1768 - 57 

Deed  to  the  Proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania 49,  58 

title  to  lands  south  of  Hooper’s  line  extinguished,  1786. . 58,  59 

title  to  remainder  of  Pennsylvania  extinguished,  1784  . . .67,  448 

delegates  to  be  present  when  temporary  line  is  run 68 

families  at  Chenango  visit  the  Commissioners 86,  87 

Maiden,  picture  taken  by  Simeon  DeWitt 86,  88 

Purchase  of  1785  (New  York)  laid  out 104,  105 

Purchase  of  1784  (Pennsylvania),  surveys  in 106 

Deed  of  Erie  Triangle 197 

Deed  of  lands  along  the  Lakes 406 

title  to  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase  extinguished 415 

Deed  to  Susquehanna  Company 421 

Treaty  of  Fort  Harmar 446 

Indians,  letter  of,  to  Governors  Effingham  and  Dongan 42 

Penn  charged  with  diverting  trade  with 45 

proposed  purchase  from,  by  Pennsylvania 54 

dissatisfied  with  Hooper’s  location  of  their  boundary  in  1774,  58 

expect  presents 81 

object  to  a continuance  of  the  Survey 92 

pacified  with  rum  and  tobacco 93 

a formidable  enemy  to  the  Colonies 179 

under  protection  of  England 190 

in  the  waj  ot  a survey  of  the  Line  of  Cession 195 

destroy  monuments 204 


472 


[Senate 


Indians  — ( Continued) : page. 

Resolutions  to  quiet  the 414 

stipulate  with  the  Proprietaries  not  to  sell 421 

Treaty  with,  for  purchase  of  Erie*  lands  recommended.  .443.  446 

Initial  Point,  on  Delaware  River,  fixed,,  1774 63,  69 

Palmer  at,  in  1784 * 73 

Joint  Commissioners  meet  at,  1877 124 

Station  Travis  at 127 

probable  position  of 128 

New  monument  at 154,  155,  157,  224 

Surveys  for  sketch  of 174 

Beech  stump  cut  for  observation  at 65,  129,  299 

Ingoldsby,  Richard,  Governor,  address  upon  the  encroachments 

of  Pennsylvania 44 

Instructions  to  Surveyors,  1883 219 

James,  Robert,  a Surveyor  upon  Phelps  and  Gorham's  Purchase  113 

finds  stake  in  random  line  of  1787 90 

Jay,  John,  Secretary,  letter  to  Governor  Clinton 197 

Governor  of  New  York,  announces  purchase  of  Connecticut 

Gore  to  Legislature 432 

Proclamation  of 433 

Jenkins,  John,  surveys  Township  of  Athens 110,  426 

Johnson,  Guv,  Map  of  Indian  Boundary  by 57 

reports  dissatisfaction  of  Indians  over  location  of  boundaries.  59 

Map  by,  referred  to 86 

Map  by,  described 398 

Johnson,  Sir  William 58 

location  of  land  by,  upon  the  Susquehanna  objected  to 50 

•equested  to  prevent  purchases  by  Penn.,  from  Indians.  . .54,  56 

present  at  Fort  Stanwix,  1768  .' 56 

Johnston,  James,  a Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor 109 

Joint  Boundary  Commission,  1877..  ..24,  33,  127,  140,  152,  153,  286 

organizes  at  New  York 6,  39 

Resolutions  of,  directing  reconnaissance 6 

meets  at  Initial  Point 7 

meets  at  Clifton  Springs 8 

meets  at  Hancock . . 124 

discusses  proper  method  of  adjustment 9-22,  138  et  seq. 

concludes  upon  course  to  be  taken  154 

meets  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y 219 

Jones  Creek 229,  272 

Keating  Estate,  surveys  of ill,  384-9 

referred  to 167 

Kiantone  Creek. 357 

Correction  Station,  1787,  on  bank  of 91 

King,  Francis,  Surveys  of Ill,  3*4 

finds  Milestone  153  out  of  place 167,  385 

King,  Robert,  courtesy  acknowledged ...  32 

furnishes  Sketch  of  Boundary  along  McKean  County 121 

furnishes  Keating  records 384 


No.  71.] 


473 


PAGE. 

Knapp,  C.  L.,  County  Line  Commissioner 121 

Knapp’s  Creek 245,  331 

Lake  Erie 5,  8,  19,  48,  67,  127,  175,  183,  185,  194,  195,  197,  198 

201,  202,  205,  380,  390,  406,  412,  429,  438,  439,  440,  442,  445 

447,  448,  450,  453 

New  Monument  at 28,  205,  207,  258 

old  Monument  at 37,  203,  204,  318 

Astronomical  observations  near 38,  279 

Survey  of  1787  terminates  at 81,  93,  95 

United  States  Lake  Survey,  results  at 279 

Seth  Pease’s  traverse  of 318 

Triangle 438  et  seq. 

Lake  Ontario.  ( See  Ontario.) 

Latitude  Stones  at  original  Correction  Stations 97 

(See  Monuments.) 

Lawrence,  Robert 112 

Lawrenceville,  Astronomical  Station,  89,  127,  132,  162,  163,  164,  235 

Detailed  Record  of 274 

Astronomical  Parallel  intersects  lots  in  village  of. 144 

Laws.  ( See  Acts.) 

Leavenworth,  Elias  W.,  Commissioner  from  New  York. 8,  23,  39,  286 

signs  Final  Agreement 29 

Leete’s  Island,  granite  Monuments  from 154 

Lightfoot,  Thomas,  Surveys  of  Keating  Estate Ill,  387 

notes  Milestone  153 167 

Lindley,  ELazer,  purchases  Township  of  Phelps  and  Gorham . 112 

settles  upon  his  tract 115 

heirs  sued  by  Connecticut  Claimants * . . 434 

Line  of  Property  ” described 57 

run  by  R.  L.  Hooper  in  1774 58 

Litchfield  Observatory 37 

Little  Genesee  Creek 243,  323,  387 

Little  Meadows,  Correction  Station  near,  1786 88 

Astronomical  Station 127,  132,  158,  160,  161,  229,  264 

Detailed  Record  of 272 

Lockhart,  Josiah 106,  107 

Loup’s  Creek 244,  326 

Lukens,  John,  Surveyor  General  of  Pennsylvania 65,  74 

instructs  Palmer  to  lay  out  Warrants 73 

Commissions  George  Palmer  Deputy  Surveyor 291 

Letter  to  Palmer ...  . 309 

Lydius,  John  H.,  Gov.  Morris  wishes  him  prosecuted 54,  420 

witness  before  Council  at  Trenton  54 

Macclure,  William,  surveys  lands  in  Broome  County 103 

Papers  of,  in  hands  of  M.  R.  Hulce 105 

investigates  deficiencies  in  patents  in  Tioga  County 105,  120 

Maclay,  William,  Commissioner  on  temporary  line,  1783 67,  It  7 

superseded 71 

runs  Temporary  line  in  Bradford  and  Tioga  Counties,  75,  76,  106 
[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.] 


474  [Senate 

Maclay,  William  {Continued) : • page. 

Senator  from  Pennsylvania . 107 

temporary  line  referred  to 426 

Macomb,  Gen.  Alexander 105 

Madison,  James  177,  185 

Mahoning  Creek 74 

Maps,  Boundary,  referred  to.  .21,  28,  29,  31,  32,  64,  81,  124,  202,  221 

Early,  showing  boundaries  of  Provinces 47,  390-401 

Mitchell’s 47,  390,  406 

Evans’,  of  1749 48,  399 

Guy  Johnson’s 57,  86,  398 

Peter  S.  Du  Ponceau,  a great  collector  of 84 

Marks  upon  Witness  trees  .313,  324 

Maryland  refuses  to  sign  Articles 178 

requested  by  Congress  to  ratify . . 187 

delegates  instructed  to  subscribe  to  Articles 188 

delegates  subscribe 190 

Mason  and  Dixon’s  Line 49,  65,  83,  85 

Massachusetts,  disputed  boundary  between  Rhode  Island  and.  16,  20 

Decisions  upon  boundary  between  Rhode  Island  and 149 

Charter  claim  of 177,  186 

passes  act  of  Cession 192,  193,  415 

claim  to  New  York  Territory 402-417 

Charter 402,  404 

Maxwell,  Hugh,  Surveys  township  lines  in  Phelps  and  Gorham’s 

Purchase 112 

McKean  County,  Pennsylvania 55,  280 

Section  of  Boundary  adjacent  to,  omitted  in  1878 8,  9,  127 

Early  Land  Surveys  in 109 

Bingham  Estate  Surveys  in 110 

Keating  Estate  Surveys  in Ill,  384-9 

and  Warren  County  Line  Commission 110, 121,  135,  169 

New  Monuments  along 166-9,  174 

Description  of  locations  of  new  Monuments  along  242-9 

Angles  and  distances  along 267-8 

County  and  Town  Corners 284 

Connecticut  Townships  in 421 

Meek’s  Creek 245,  328,  386 

Meridian  Boundary,  Deed  of  Cession 27,  189 

fixed  in  Final  Agreement 27 

Latitude  observation  at. 37,  38 

Monument  at  Lake  Erie,  1869 39 

Ellicott’s  notes  of,  probably  destroyed 84 

expected  to  pass  near  Milestone  190 99,  439 

Note  on,  by  revisers  of  New  York  Statutes 100 

re-surveyed  by  James  Smedley 118 

Reconnaissance  of,  by  O.  D.  Hinckley 120,  204 

Reconnaissance  of,  in  1878  (H.  W.  Clarke) ..127,  204 

New  terminal  monument  in 154,  262 

setting  new  monuments  on 155,  207 

New  monument  at  South  End  of 172 

Number  of  new  monuments  along .174,  209 


No.  71.] 


475 


Meridian  Boundary  — ( Continued  ).*  page. 

Historical  Sketch  of 175  et  seq. 

alternative  lines  of  Cession  proposed 183 

location  of  line  of  Cession  unknown 192 

Ellicott  appointed  to  Survey 194,  197,  450 

Original  surveys 198 

run  by  Andrew  Ellicott 201 

Expense  of  Survey 202 

Original  Monuments  on 202 

Mile-posts  on 202,  204 

Map  of 202 

initial  monument 203,  205,  380,  382 

length  of 202,  203,  204,  205,  200 

Judge  Peacock  thinks  initial  monument  broken  down  by 

Indians .' 204 

new  initial  monument 205,  258 

South  end  of,  irregular 209 

Description  of  new  monuments  along 258 

Schedule  of  new  monuments  along 258-262 

Table  of  distances  along 270 

various  latitudes  of  Initial  Monument 279 

Seth  Pease  finds  Lake  Erie  Monument  broken  in  pieces 317 

Records  of  Holland  Land  Company’s  Surveys  along 362-383 

Massachusetts  claim,  a part  of  history  of 402 

West  line  of  lands  ceded  by  New  York  to  Massachusetts..  . . 415 

Erroneous  ideas  of  location  of 439 

Congress  asked  to  cause  survey  to  be  made  441 

not  yet  run ....  445 

Meridian,  observations  for,  by  John  Adlum 113 

at  Astronomical  Stations ...  128 

marked  by  Monuments 159,  160,  172,  227,  229,  233,  276 

observations  for,  on  Meridian  Boundary 207,  208 

mark  at  Station  Travis  224 

Mr.  Lukens,  used  by  George  Palmer 292 

observations  for,  by  Seth  Pease 318 

(See  Transit.) 

Mifflin,  Governor,  letter  to,  from  Tench  Coxe 196 

ready  to  close  contract  for  Erie  lands 452 

Milestones,  described 222 

( See  Monuments.) 

Mitchell,  Dr.  John,  map  published  by 47,  49,  390,  399,  406 

foot-note  referring  to 47 

Mix,  David  E.  E.,  in  possession  of  Field  Notes  of  Holland  Land 

Company  119,  313 

Monument  Island 64,  99,  124,  130 

Monuments  designated  in  Final  Agreement 27-28 

perishable,  have  served  for  nearly  a century 30 

Original  Initial,  at  Lake  Erie 37,  317,  380 

New,  at  Lake  Erie 39,  206 

Original,  described 96 

peculiar  forms  of  original 97 

Initial,  on  Delaware,  undermined 12' 


476  [Senate 

Monuments  — ( Continued)  : page. 

site  of,  at  Delaware  River 130 

Original,  found 132 

old,  “ State  line  Stone” 132,  159,  228 

Number  of  original 137 

New,  described 154,  222,  223,  258 

first  one  set 154 

Large  Initial  and  Terminal 154 

New,  set,  in  detail 157-174 

total  number 173,  174 

Original,  on  Meridian  Boundary 202 

New,  on  Meridian  Boundary 207 

described  in  Instructions 220 

manner  of  setting  of  new 2^3 

Description  of  locations  of  new 224-262 

Monument  to  Cornplanter 455 

Montgomery,  James,  Commissioner  of  Pennsylvania  to  run  tem- 
porary line 67 

superseded  ....  71 

Montgomery,  William,  Commissioner,  to  run  temporary  line. . . 67 

declines 67 

Moore,  Henry,  Governor  of  New  York,  letter  describing  Indian 

Boundary,  1768,  as  North  Boundary  of  Pennsylvania...  57 


Morris,  Governor  (Pennsylvania),  proposes  to  purchase  lands  of 

Indians. 54 

wishes  Lydius  prosecuted 54 

Morris  Reserve,  Survey  of  South  end  of 115,  316 

divided  into  Ranges 417 

Morris,  Robert,  purchases  tract  in  Broome  county 105 

Warrants  of,  in  Pennsylvania 108,  109 

required  surveyor’s  field  notes  to  be  returned 110 

purchases  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  lands . . . . 113,  415 

purchases  remainder  of  territory  in  New  York 115,  416 

conveys  it  to  Holland  Land  Company 115,  417 

vpfn ins  i(  Posprvp  ” 417 

Morris,  William  W V.7.7.7.7 .7.7.7. 19, *26,’  94^  95,  98,'  100,  440 

Commissioner  in  place  of  Simeon  De  Witt 77,  80 

signs  Report  of  Survey  of  1787 81 

letter  of  Hardenbergh  and,  to  Gov.  Clinton 81 

Murray,  David,  Secretary  of  Joint  Commission 221,  286 

Names  of  Commissioners  and  persons  upon  Boundary  Survey.  .286-87 

of  persons  employed  in  1786  79 

Neversink  River 99,  299 

New  Jersey,  23,  25,  29,  41, 42, 44, 45, 46,  47,  48,  52,  292,  390  et  seq.}  423 

429 

Boundary  Monuments 5,  25 

New  York  Commissioners  to  act  with  Commissioners  from,  22,  139 

Release  of  Province  of 40 

Line  in  Delaware  River  between  Pennsylvania  and 101 

new  Monuments  furnished  by  John  Beattie 154 


No.  71.] 


477 


New  Jersey  — ( Continued ) : page. 

Boundary,  party  engaged  upon 155 

Delegates  from,  remonstrate. 191 

New  Netherland 176,  391 

described  by  Vander  Donck 403 

New  York  ...9,  15,  18,  19,  33,  53,  76,  77,  95,  96,  101,  123,  146,  194 

196,  201,  439,  449 

Boundary  Committee,  1877 5,  39 

Boundary  Commissioners,  1881 23 

represented  in  Joint  Commission 6 

H.  W.  Clarke  appointed  Surveyor  for 7 

Commissioners  opposed  to  change  in  Boundary 9,  14,  20 

Policy  of,  regarding  Boundaries 14 

State  Survey  to  locate  monuments 21 

Reorganization  of  Commission 22 

Boundary  fixed  in  final  agreement 24 

Charter  to  Duke  of  York 40,  403 

South  Boundary  of 41,  45 

Politicians  referred  to  by  Douglass 47 

Boundaries  of  province  described 46,  47,  404,  429 

Boundaries  Exhibited  on  Early  Maps 47,  390  et  seq . 

consents  to  meeting  with  Indians  54 

Governor  of,  expects  claim  to  43°  renewed 56 

action  of  Council  on  Governor  Penn’s  letter,  1774 62 


Legislature  passes  an  act  for  marking  a permanent  line 69 

Boundary  Commissioners  appointed  (1785) 71 

Revised  Statutes  of,  error  in 99 

Early  land  surveys  in 102-106,  111-119 

South  West  Corner  of,  120,  127,  138,  171,  172,  173,  203,  204,  257 

258,  262,  270,  276 

Commissioners  report  to  Regents 139 

Commissioners  undertake  entire  charge 153 

without  a fixed  Western  Boundary 175 

a Dutch  Province 176 

Indians  dependents  of 177,  185,  190,  406 

Legislature  instructs  delegates 183 

Delegates  from,  sign  declaration 188 

execute  deed  of  Cession 189 

Laws  of,  relating  to  Boundary .212-215 

County  and  Town  Corners  in 280-82,  285 

Boundaries  described  by  Governor  Tryon 404 

Delaware  River  the  western  limit  of  407,  429 

Legislature  denies  claim  of  Massachusetts 407 

Cedes  land  to  Massachusetts 411 

Legislature  requests  De  Witt  to  run  Pre-emption  line. .....  416 

Connecticut  claim  to  lands  in .429  et  seq. 

resolution  of  Legislature  relative  to 432 

Attorney-General  of,  directed  to  defend  suits 435 

Legislature  rejects  Connecticut  proposition 436 

Legislature  refuses  to  accede  to  terms  of  compromise 437 


(See  Meridian  and  Parallel  Boundary ; also  the  several  coun- 
ties along  the  Boundary;  also  Regents  of  theUniversity.) 


478 


[Senate 


PAGE. 

New  York  City,  Mr.  Rutherford’s  observatory  in 37 

Joint  Commission  meets  in 39 

officials  lament  the  loss  of  trade  caused  by  the  Grant  to 

Penn 42 

officials  compliment  Governor  Dongan’s  endeavors ...  44 

New  York  State  Survey 11,  21,  12«,  138/ 141,  143,  145,  289,  290 

Director  of 124,  140 

Station  in  Bradford  County 128,  277 

locates  Milestone  40 138 

monuments 154 

Station  Bly 164 

Latitude  and  Longitude  of  Milestone  40 229,  277 

Niagara  Falls,  seen  by  Ellicott 201 

height  first  measured 201 

Niagara  River 52,  183,  184,  189,  198,  201,  202,  393,  406,  412 

Nichols,  Eli,  resurveys  First  Tract  in  Windsor 103 

Nichols,  Henry 105 

Nichols  Patent  in  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y 103 

Tract  in  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y 105 

deficiency  in 105 

Nicholson,  Samuel,  Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor 1 1 0 

surveys  Willink  Lands 110 

surveys  Erie  Triangle 202 

Northumberland  Lottery  warrants  (Pennsylvania) 76,  100 


Observations.  {See  Astronomical ; also  Meridian.) 


Oil  Field,  Northern,  Line  through 154,  168,  327-336 

monuments  in 245,  246 

Ontario,  Lake. 27,  47,  52,  56,  112,  183,  184,  185,  189,  195,  198,  392 

393,  394,  396,  399,  400,  406,  412,  413,  448,  449 

Ore  Bed  Creek 240,  316 

Oswayo  River 92,  127,  243,  244,  324,  325,  387 

Flats 117,  135,  244,  275 

Ouaquaga,  Indian  village  of 57,  305,  401 

“ Owegy,”  the  starting  point  of  Indian  Boundary 57,  58,  59,  390 

399,  401,  411 

Pacific  Ocean  the  Charter  limit  of  Provinces 177,  418 

Palmer,  George 32,  102,  104,  308 

Notes  of,  in  possession  of  Historical  Societvof  Pennsylvania,  32,  65 

73,  75,  291 

accompanies  Rittenhouse  and  Holland 65 

runs  a line  from  the  Delaware  to  the  Susquehanna 73 

rough  map  compiled  by 75,  76 

lays  out  warrants  in  1785 101,  102 

appointed  Deputy  Surveyor 107,  291 

remains  ot  two  mile  birch  identified 125 

birch  tree  referred  to 131,  157,  310 

line  of,  still  occupied 131 

Copies  of  documents  found  among  papers  of 291-312 


]STo.  71.]  479 

Palmer,  George  — ( Continued ) : page. 

Commission  as  Deputy  Surveyor 291 

Survey  of  Delaware  River  by 292-303 

notes  of  Survey  west  from  the  Delaware 304-306 

letter  to,  from  John  Lukens 309 

Field-notes  of  warrant  surveys  by 310-312 

Parallel  Boundary  fixed  in  Final  Agreement 26 

Historical  Sketch  of 40 

Survey  of  1786-7  76 

Original  Monuments  on 96 

Note  by  revisers  of  New  York  Statutes 100 

Early  land  surveys  along 101 

Survey  of,  commenced  1877 125 

found  to  be  crooked : . . 126 

Wilderness  portion  omitted. . 127 

divided  into  sections 128,  157 

Condition  of 131 

Monuments  found  upon 132,  137 

length  of  intervals  on 137 

length  of 138 

Commissioners  discuss  method  of  adjustment 138 

obstacles  in  the  way  of  re-adjustment  ....  143 

a base  line  of  land  surveys 143 

inhabitants  opposed  to  a change  in 145 

setting  of  new  monuments  on,  commenced 154 

total  number  of  New  Monuments  upon 173 

Surveys  for  sketch  at  Eastern  Extremity  of 174 

established 194 

New  Monuments  on,  described 222 

manner  of  setting  monuments  on 223 

Schedule  of  Monuments  on 224-258 

Table,  of  Angular  deflections  and  distances  along 263-9 

Counties  and  Towns  along 280-285 

( See  also  Boundary,  Northern,  of  Pennsylvania.) 

Patterson,  George  W 28,  207 

Patterson,  Robert,  Ellicott’s  letter  to 77,  84,  201 

Peacock,  William,  Surveyor  for  Holland  Land  Company 119 

thinks  Elliott’s  papers  burned  by  the  British 198 

describes  Lake  Erie  Monument 203 

thinks  it  broken  down  by  Indians 204 

Pease,  Seth,  Surveyor  for  Holland  Land  Company,  mentions  Lake 

Erie  Monument 203 

Extract  lrom  field- notes  of 317 

Pembroke  Run 246,  332 

Penn,  John,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Pennsylvania. . .54,  60,  62,  63 

64,  66,  401 

present  at  Fort  Stanwix 56 

Penn,  Thomas,  Proprietary  of  Pennsylvania 58,  401 

instructs  Governor  Morris  upon  terms  of  purchase  from  In- 
dians  55 

Indian  Deed  to,  1768 58 

petitions  the  King  to  have  boundaries  fixed 60 


480  [Senate' 

PAGE* 

Penn,  William 42,  44,  45,  49 

Charter  to,  of  Pennsylvania.. 7,  18,  27,  40,  51,  53,  54,  56,  60,  67 

100,  101,  431 

ambiguity  in 48 

Quit-claim  to,  from  Duke  of  York 41 

suggests  the  proper  Boundary  between  French  and  English  176 

his  idea  adopted.  > 186- 

Pennsylvania  represented  at  Joint  Meeting 6,  39 

C.  M.  Gere  appointed  Surveyor  for 7 

Commissioners  favor  a rectification  of  Boundary 8,  9,  140 

Boundary  of,  fixed  in  Final  Agreement 25 

Governor  of,  appoints  Boundary  Commissioners 25 

Charter  of 40 

Jealousy  of  New  Yorkers  toward 41 

Ambiguity  in  Charter  description  of  Boundary  of 49 

Boundaries  of,  described  by  Lords  of  Trade 49 

described  by  Governor  Hamilton 50,  52 

claims  a Boundary  North  of  42° 50 

proposes  to  purchase  lands  from  Indians 54 

Proprietaries  of,  petition  to  have  Boundaries  fixed 60 

Boundaries  of,  described 61 

Resolutions  of  General  Assembly,  1783  ; 67 

Commission  of,  appointed  to  examine  the  subject  of  inland 

Navigation,  etc 67,  438 

Commission  to  run  a temporary  line 68 

General  Assembly  rescinds  resolutions 70 

expenses  of  Temporary  Commission  provided  for 70 

General  Assembly  provides  for  a new  Commission 70 

Commissioners  directed  to  continue  survey  without  co-opera- 
tion of  New  York 77 

Commissioners  ready  for  operations,  1787 78 

has  a Purveyor  appointed 79- 

Line  in  Delaware  River  between  New  Jersey  and 101 

Early  land  surveys  in 101  et  seq. 

Crude  system  of  land  surveys  in 106 

Commissioners  informed  of  action  of  Board  of  Regents 139 

Message  to  Legislature  of 158 

Legislature  of,  fails  to  appropriate  funds 158 

County  and  Town  Corners  in 281-5* 

Representation  of,  upon  early  Maps 390  et  seq . 

Contest  with  Connecticut .417-428 

Proprietaries  of,  stipulate  with  Indian  Chiefs 421 

Council  of  Censors  denounce  persecution  of  Connecticut 

settlers 425 

Confirming  act  passed 426 

General  Assembly  proposes  to  purchase  Lake  Erie  Lands  438,  441 

Proposition  of  Delegates  of 442 

final  purchase  of  Indians 448 

ready  to  close  contract  for  Erie  Lands 452 

Patent  to,  of  Erie  Lands 452 

appropriates  money  for  Indians . , 454 


No.  71.]  4Si 

Pennsylvania  — ( Continued) : page. 

grants  lands  to  Cornplanter 455 

(See  Boundary,  Northern,  of  Pennsylvania ; also,  Meridian 
and  Parallel  Boundary;  also,  the  several  Counties  along 
the  Boundary.) 

Perkins,  George  R.,  Commissioner 5,  28,  39,  207 

Peters,  Dr.  C.  H.  F.,  refers  to  condition  of  Monument  at  Lake 

Erie 37 

observes  for  Latitude  and  Longitude 175 

Astronomical  Station  of,  located . . . . 208 

Detailed  record  of 2^7 

error  in  distance  by,  to  Lake 278 

Peters,  Richard,  reports  to  Gov.  Penn  upon  the  Crown’s  con- 
struction of  the  Bounds  of  New  York..  53 

present  at  Fort  Stanwix * 57 

Phelps  and  Gorham  Purchase,  Surveys  in 89,  112 

West  line  run  by  John  Adlum 108,  113 

Maior  Adam  Hoops  superintends  surveys  of 113 

Area  of 113 

South  West  Corner  of. 115,  316 

Notes  of  surveys  in  134 

Town  Corners  in 165 

proprietors  represented  on  survey  of  Meridian  Boundary 198 

purchase  of,  from  Massachusetts 415 

Eastern  line  run 416 

purchase  of,  from  the  Indians 450 

Philadelphia.  ..32,  56,  65,  66,  78,  80,  81,  82,  84,  88,  113,  198,  288 

317,  454 

Merchants  of,  agitate  the  question  of  inland  navigation  .67,  438 
Pierson,  Henry  R.,  appointed  Commissioner  from  New  York.  .5,  23 

25,  39,  286 

Letter  of,  transmitting  Report 3 

Letter  of,  replying  to  Colonel  Worrall’s  proposition  to  rectify 

the  Boundary 14 

signs  Final  Agreement 29 

letter  to  Director  Gardiner 140 

Pig-Pen  Run ....  225 

Platt,  George,  courtesy  acknowledged 32 

re-surveys  town  lines  in  Erie  County 123 

Plumb-line,  deflection  of 142 

Polaris,  observations  of 113,  208,  318 

Porter,  Andrew 12,  19,26,  72,  77,94,  98,  99,  100,  195 

Biographical  foot-note 82 

appointed  Boundary  Commissioner. 18,  73 

Commissioner  on  Virginia  Boundary 72 

signs  report  of  Survey  of  1787 ....  81 

announces  completion  of  Survey 82 

Reports  progress  from  the  Conewango  valley 91 

reports  arrival  at  Lake  Erie 93 

sued  for  value  of  a horse 96 

erroneous  idea  of,  of  location  of  Line  of  Cession 194,  439 

Letter  of 439 

Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.1  61 


482  [Senate 

PAGE. 

Porter,  Augustus,  surveyor  upon  Phelps  and  Gorham’s  Purchase.  112 

makes  initial  survey  for  Holland  Land  Company 115 

surveys  Willink  Lands 117 

assists  in  survey  of  New  Pre-emption  Line .195,  416 

extract  from  field-notes  of 316,  322 

Potter  County,  Pennsylvania 280 

Early  Land  Surveys  in 109 

Bingham  Estate  in 110 

Ross  Estate  in Ill 

recent  surveys  of  Town  lines  in 123 

New  Monuments  along 164-166,  173 

Description  of  locations  of 238-242 

Angles  and  distances  along 266-267 

County  and  Town  Corners  in 283-284 

Keating  Estate  Surveys 386 

Pratt,  Daniel  J.,  Assistant  Secretary 9,  286 

Correspondence  to  ascertain  condition  of  Boundary 38 

endeavors  to  find  Ellicott’s  Report 83,  198 

attends  meeting  at  Initial  Point 124 

death  referred  to 179 

Biographical  Sketch 289 

Pre-Emption  Line 163 

New,  run  by  Ellicott 195,  416 

Prendergast,  A.  T.,  sets  a new  Monument 136,  170 

Milestone  194  set  beside  it 170,  252 

Presque  Isle 93,  95,  382,  438,  439,  440,  447,  448 

Pruyn,  John  V.L., Commissioner  from  New  York.  5,  6,  28,  39,  207,  286 

Biographical  Sketch 289 

Pulteney,  Sir  William,  extensive  purchaser  of  land  in  Steuben 

county 114 

Pumpelly,  James 105 

Pumpelly,  Herman 112 

Purchase.  {See  Phelps  and  Gorham;  also , Holland  Land  Com- 
pany, etc.) 

Quadrant,  Hadley’s,  used  at  Initial  Point,  1774. ...  64 

Small  Astronomical,  purchased  by  Commissioners.  1784.  .71,  73 

Quaker  Run. 248,  249,  341,  342,  347 

Quebec,  Boundaries  of,  extended 177 

Lands  West  of  Niagara  and  Pennsylvania  annexed  to. .... . 185 

South  Boundary  of 406 

Rail-road  Monuments  described 220,  223 


Extracts  from,  recommended  to  be  filed  in  County  Clerk’s 

offices 32 

Red  House  Creek 248 

Red- Water  Creek 241 

Regents  of  the  University . 14,  15,  71,  80,  121,  139,  152,  153,  289,  290 
charged  with  duty  of  examination  relative  to  Boundary  Mon- 
uments  : 5,  22,  24,  214 


No.  n.] 


483 


Regents  of  the  University  — ( Continued ) ; page. 

appoint  a Boundary  Committee 5 

Resolution  of,  designating  Boundary  Commissioners 23,  25 

Dr.  Peters  reports  to,  on  Latitudes  and  Longitudes 37 

Report  of  Commissioners  to 140 

employ  Dr.  Peters  in  Astronomical  work 175 

authorized  to  erect  new  Initial  Monument  at  Lake  Erie 205 

Reports  of  progress  upon  Boundary  Survey  referred  to.  ... . . .23,  39 

Resolutions : 

of  Joint  Commission,  1877 6 

of  Regents  designating  Commissioners 23,  214 

to  examine  navigation,  etc.  (Pennsylvania) 67 

directing  Commissioners  to  mark  Northern  Boundary  of 

Pennsylvania 68 

rescinding  the  same 70 

Joint,  to  organize  Town  of  Chemung 112 

of  Congress  requesting  Cession  of  Western  lands 186 

of  Cession  by  Virginia v 187 

accepting  Cession  of  New  York  (U.  S.) . . . . 190 

urging  other  States  to  Cede  (U.  S.) 190 

of  acceptance  passed  (U.  S.) 191 

directing  Geographer  to  ascertain  line  of  Cession  (U.  S.),  194,  441 

Amending  previous  resolution 196 

Joint,  of  New  York,  Authorizing  Regents  to  erect  new  Monu- 
ment near  Lake  Erie 205 

Joint,  of  New  York,  Authorizing  Regents  to  examine  Bound- 
aries  212 

of  Massachusetts  claiming  territory  westward  of  New  York..  407 

of  New  York  upon  the  claims  of  Massachusetts.  .> 407 

of  New  York  to  quiet  the  Six  Nations 414 

of  Connecticut,  asserting  claim  to  Western  land 422 

of  Congress  requiring  contending  parties  in  Pennsylvania  to 

cease  hostilities 422 

of  New  York  on  Connecticut  claim 432 

of  New  York  not  to  appoint  Commissioners  436 

of  New  York  not  to  accede  to  terms  of  compromise 437 

of  Pennsylvania,  calling  for  description  of  Lake  Erie  lands. . 438 
of  Pennsylvania,  Authorizing  delegates  to  purchase  lands.  . . 441 

of  Congress  granting  Lake  Erie  lands  to  Pennsylvania 443 

of  Pennsylvania  accepting  the  purchase 445 

Revised  Statutes  of  New  York: 

Description  of  Boundaries  in 19,  9S 

Error  in 99 

remarks  of  revisers 99 

consulted  for  history  of  Meridian  Boundary 175 

not  historically  correct 176 

Rhode  Island,  disputed  Boundary  between  Massachusetts  and..  16,  20 

Decision  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  upon 149 

Rittenhouse,  David....  12,  19,  26,  65,  78,  82,  84,  94,  97,  99,  100,  124 

130,  142,  195,  292,  296,  297,  304 

Biographical  Foot-note 64 

appointed  Commissioner  for  Pennsylvania,  1774 18,  63 


484 


[Senate 


Rittenhouse,  David  — ( Continued ):  page. 

signs  report  upon  Monument  at  Delaware  River  , 64 

bill  for  services 66 

appointed  Boundary  Commissioner,  1784 70 

notified  of  action  of  New  York 72 

Letters  of,  relative  to  preliminary  arrangements 72 

Commissioner  on  Boundary  between  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia  72L 

Letter  to  Ellicott  from 76 

Commissioner  on  Boundary  between  Massachusetts  and  New 

York .77,  411 

Sector  constructed  by 85 

Letter  of,  to  his  wife 86 

leaves  the  Boundary  Party 89 

Letter  from  Ellicott  and  Porter  to 93 

Pay  for  services  of 95 

probable  position  of  observatory  of,  1774. . 129 

requested  to  furnish  instruments  to  Ellicott 197 

Traverse  of  Delaware  River  by 299 

owns  a transit  instrument 416 

Rose  Brook 239 

Rose,  Robert  H.,  large  land-holder  in  Bradford  and  Susquehanna 

Counties Ill 

Ross,  George,  Vice-President  of  Pennsylvania,  letter  of,  to  dele- 
gates in  Congress 195 

Ross,  Sobieski,  Estate  of,  in  Potter  County Ill 

Rutherford’s  Observatory  in  New  York  city 37 

Sand  Pond  Brook 123,  125,  131,  157,  224,  225,  304,  308 

Saxton,  Frederick,  surveyor  upon  Phelps  and  Gorham  Purchase.  113 

accompanies  Ellicott  on  Survey  of  Meridian  Boundary 198 

Schuyler,  Philip,  appointed  Commissioner 18,  71 

letter  from,  to  the  New  York  Legislature 179 

Sections,  Parallel  Boundary  divided  into 128,  157 

New  monuments  upon  each  157  et  seq. 

Seely  Creek 234 

Seneca  Lake 416 

Shepard,  Wareham,  Surveyor  for  Holland  Land  Company ..  117,  118 

fixes  Township  Corners  on  Meridian  Boundary 203 

Sidney,  Township  of  (New  York) 105,  106 

Simmons,  George  A.,  opinion  of,  upon  Connecticut  Boundary. 20,  147 
Smedley,  James 117 


Smith,  Edwin,  Assistant  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey.  12 

127,  T42,  271,  287 

Smoke  affects  accuracy  of  Observations 85 

Snake  Creek 103,  104,  159,  227 

South  Creek 233 

Spanish  Hills  Monument Ill,  161,  232 

Spiritual  Spring,  Kiantone 357 

Sperry,  James,  re-surveys  lands  in  Cattaraugus  County 119 

Starr,  Geo.  W.,  County  Line  Commissioner 121 


No.  71.] 


485 


PAGE. 

Starrucca  Tract,  Drinker’s 102,  107 

State  Line  Run .....246,  250,  251,  349 

State  Survey  (See  New  York.) 

Steuben  County,  New  York 90,  294,  280 

Early  Land  Surveys  in 112 

Supervisor  More  of  Lindley 162 

New  Monuments  along 162-5,  173 

Description  of  location  of . 234-9 

Angles  and  distances  along 266 

County  and  Town  Corners 281 

Connecticut  claim  to  lands  in 429 

Stewart,  Charles,  Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor 107 

Stillwater  Creek 253,  360 

Stoddard,  Richard  M.,  Surveyor  for  Holland  Land  Company.118,  350 

Storehouse  Brook 251,  354 

Stuart,  Gen.  Charles  B.,  life  of  Ellicottby 201 

Suffern,  Edward 205 

Sugar  Grove,  Astronomical  Station.  .128, 136,  169, 171,  172,  253,  269 

Detailed  Record  of 276 

Survey,  cost  of  an  independent  geodetic 13,  146 

State.  (See  New  York.) 

Surveyors,  Deputy,  in  Pennsylvania 107  et  seq. 

for  Phelps  and  Gorham 112  et  seq. 

for  Holland  Land  Company 115  et  seq. 

Surveys,  temporary,  of  Portions  of  Boundary 73 

independent,  for  location  of  lands 73  et  seq. 

of  1786  and  1787  , 7 6 et  seq 

Early  land,  along  Boundary 101  et  seq 

System  of,  in  Pennsylvania 106 

Brady’s,  interference  of,  with  New  York  lands 109 

of  1877-9 , 124 

of  Meridian  Boundary 201,  204 

defined  by  Lewis  Evans.  400 

Susquehanna  Company 110 

John  H.  Lydius  agent  for 54 

organized 420 

makes  Surveys 421 

renews  contest 425 

Susquehanna  County,  Pennsylvania 156,  272,  280 

“ Old  State  line”  in 75,  76 

Warrants  in,  surveyed,  1784  75 

Early  land  Surveys  in 102 

Rose  Estate  in Ill 

Commissioners  locate  Milestone  21 131,  159 

New  Monuments  along 157-9,  173 

Description  of  location  of 225-9 

Angles  and  distances  along 263-4 

County  and  Town  Corners 282-3 

Geo.  Palmer’s  Surveys  in 305 


Susquehanna  River.  ..9,  41,  42,  44,  48,  50,  52,  55,  67,  71,  73,  75,  76 
83,  86,  91,  102,  104,  106,  107,  110,  127,  155,  288,  309,  393,  401 

421,  426 


486 


| (Senate 


Susquehanna  River  — ( Continued ):  page. 

-Falls  of 42,  43 

Governor  Dongan  proposes  to  annex 44 

Governor  Hamilton  objects  to  location  of  lands  upon 50,  51 

a part  of  Indian  Boundary 57 

the  want  of  a proper  survey  of,  causes  error  in  Indian 

Boundary 59 

Correction  Station  on  bank  of,  1786 85 

intersection  with  Boundary 131,  137 

summit  west  of 132 

New  Monuments  near 154,  157,  225,  231 

a town  Boundary 280,  281,  282,  283 

George  Palmer  reaches 305 

Journal  up,  by  Drake  and  Delong 308 

Petition  to  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut  for  grant  of 

land  upon 419 

Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Joint  Commission  meets  at 219 

Table  of  distances  aud  angular  deflections 263-270 

Taylor,  D.  R.,  pointed  out  site  of  Dr.  Peters’  Station 278 

Taylor,  Jacob,  furnishes  team  for  the  Survey 125 

Thompson,  John,  Assistant  Surveyor  for  Holland  Land  Company.  119 

Thorpe,  Michael  B.,  a Surveyor 115 

Tioga  County,  New  York. 58,  103,  272,  273 

Hooper’s  temporary  line  along. 75 

Early  land  Surveys  in 75,  105,  111 

New  Monuments  along 159-161,  173 

Description  of  locations  of 229-232 

Angles  and  distances  along. . 264 

County  and  Town  Corners 280 

Lands  in,  ceded  to  Massachusetts 411 

Connecticut  claim  to  lands  in 429 

Tioga  County,  Pennsylvania . . .91,  274,  280 

Warrants  along  Maclay’s  temporary  line  in 76 

Early  land  Surveys  in 108 

Bingham  Estate  Surveys  in 110,  111 

Extracts  from  County  Records  furnished 123 

Astronomical  parallel  in 144 

New  Monuments  along 162-65,  173 

Description  of  locations  of 234-38 

Angles  and  distances  along 265-6 

County  and  Town  Corners 283 

Tioga  Point 57,  88,  399 

Tioga  River 19,  127,  274 

Survey  of  1786  terminated  near 77,  89 

Correction  Station  on  bank  of,  1786 89 

Surveys  upon 106,  108,  115 

Monument  washed  out. . 133,  102 

Angular  point  at 163 

New  Monument  on  bank  of 163,  235 

Torrey,  Robert  N.,  Commissioner  from  Pennsylvania. . .6,  25,  39,  2S6 
signs  Final  Agreement  . 29 


No.  71.] 


487 


PAGE. 

Town  and  County  Corners,  Schedule  of 280-285 

Transit  Instrument 71,  72,  94,  125,  197,  201,  416 

Meridians 116,  117,  168,  247  334,  337,  416 

Monuments.  116,  117,166,  169,241,247,281,282,317,  318,  334 

337 

Travis,  Astronomical  Station 127,  157,  263 

New  Monuments  at  158,  224,  271 

Detailed  Record  of 271 

Trees,  Witness,  description  of  Marks  upon , 313 

Trenton,  Council  of 423 

Opinion  of  members  of 424 

Trotter,  John 103 

Troup’s  Creek 108,  127,  237,  274 

Correction  Station  on  bank  of,  1787  89 

Monument  washed  out 133,  164 

Angular  point  at 164 

Trowbridge  Creek 226 

Trumbull,  Governor  of  Connecticut,  letter  to  Governor  Hamil- 
ton of  Pennsylvania 421 

Tryon,  Governor  William,  describes  Boundaries  of  N.  Y.  .48,  177,  404 

referred  to 185,  398 

Tucker,  Thomas,  a Pennsylvania  Deputy  Surveyor 107 

Tunaunguant  Creek , 127,  275,  335 

Correction  Station  on  bank  of,  1787 90 

New  Monuments  near 246 

variations  in  spelling  the  name  of 388 

Tuna  Valley 90,  389 

Astronomical  Station 128,  134,  167,  168,  169,  247,  268 

Deflection  in  Boundary  in 144 

Detailed  Record  of  Station 275 

Tunkhaunock  Creek 306,  308 

Twenty-Mile  Creek ..259,  381,  382 

United  States,  policy  of,  relative  to  Boundary  lines 16,  141 

Decisions  of  Supreme  Court  of 16,  20,  141,  149 

Congress  to  approve  Final  Argument 24,  29 

System  of  land  Surveys,  author  of.  116 

Commission  surveys  Allegany  Indian  Reservation 122 

Boundary  between  Great  Britain  and 176,  185 

Act  of  Cession  to  (New  York) 181 

Congress  requests  Maryland  to  ratify  Articles 187 

Cession  of  New  York  to,  accepted 191 

Congress  recommends  a new  act  of  Virginia 192 

Congress  accepts  Cession  from  Massachusetts 193 

Various  States  pass  acts  of  Cession  to 193 

Geographer  of,  requested  to  run  line  of  Cession 194 

President  of,  requested  to  appoint  a Surveyor 197 

Commission  to  settle  controversy  between  Connecticut  and 

Pennsylvania,  appointed  by 423 

(See  Trenton.) 


488 


[Senate 


U n i ted  States  — ( Continued) : page. 

President  of,  directed  to  grant  Letters  Patent  to  Connecticut.  428 
Congress  proposes  to  grant  Lake  Erie  lands  to  Pennsylvania.  443 

conveys  Lake  Erie  lands 453 

United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey.. 6,  10,  11,  13,  37,  38,  124 

150,  157,  209,  277,  287 

Superintendent  of,  requested  to  establish  42d  Parallel 7,  9 

Astronomical  observations  127 

Stations  divide  Boundary  into  Sections 128,  154 

results  in  Longitude 138 

report  on  Boundary 142 

System  of  triangles  to  be  extended 145 

Stations  marked  with  Monuments 155 

Stations  directed  to  be  marked 221 

Station  Monuments  described 223 

Stations,  detailed  Records  of 271-277 

United  States  Lake  Survey 209 

Longitude  of  Meridian  Boundary 138 

Correction  of  Geodetic  Positions 277 

Position  of  new  Lake  Erie  Monument 279 

University,  Regents  of.  ( See  Regents.) 

Valentine  and  Collins  survey  Canada  Boundary 16,  17 

Van  Campen,  Moses,  surveys  town  of  Independence 114 

Van  Cortlandt,  Pierre,  Lieut.-Governor  of  New  York 181 

Van  der  Donck  describes  New  Netherland  403 

Variation  of  the  Needle,  De  Witt’s  idea  of 108 

Virginia,  Charter  Claim  of 177 

Act  of  Cession 187 

Act  not  satisfactory  to  Congress 191 

passes  new  Act  of  Cession 192 

Walker,  Z.  F.,  furnishes  notes 32 

in  possession  of  Zephon  Flower’s  papers 114,  160 

Wappasening  Creek 104,  107,  230,  231 

Ward  and  Halsey  purchase  Connecticut  Gore 431 

organize  a Land  Company 432 

Warner,  W.  F : 32 

Warrants,  Military  land,  located  by  R.  L.  Hooper 59,  103,  104 

Surveys  of,  in  Pennsylvania 106 

Corners  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Milestones 171 

Geo.  Palmer’s  field-notes  of 310 

Warren,  Penn.,  laid  out  by  Andrew  Ellicott 92 

Warren  County,  Pennsylvania 92,  276,  280 

Early  land  Surveys  in  74,  110,  120 

McKean  and,  County  line  Commission ...  110,  121,  135,  169,  250 

recent  surveys  of  town  lines  in 123,  171 

old  State  line  tree  in 136,  1 70 

New  Monuments  along 169-173,  174 

Description  of  locations  of 249-256 

Angles  and  distances  along 268-209 

County  and  Town  Corners ^84 


No.  71.] 


489 


PAGE. 

Warren  Station,  New  York  State  Survey  128 

Detailed  Record  of 277 

Watson,  James,  Tracts  in  Town  of  Chemung 112 

Wattsburg,  Penn.,  Correction  Station  near,  1787  93 

Watts,  David,  Surveys  Pennsylvania  Donation  Lands 74,  120 

Watts,  John,  deficiency  Patent  to 103 

Washington,  George,  "President,  appoints  Andrew  Ellicott  Sur- 
veyor of  line  of  Cession 195,197,  450 

Letter  from  Ellicott  to 1(.  8 

criticises  the  acceptance  of  Connecticut  Cession 427 

signs  Patent  for  Erie  lands 453 

Waverly,  Correction  Station  near,  1786 88 

Astronomical  Station  (1879). .89,  127,  128,  132,160,  161,231,  265 

Milestone  60  in 133,  231 

New  Monuments  in  village  of 133,  231 

Boundary  divides  property  in 144 

first  new  Monuments  delivered  at 154 

Notes  taken  near,  to  locate  rail-roads 174 

Detailed  Record  of  Station 273 

Wayne  County,  Pennsylvania 107,  280 

Palmer  instructed  to  lay  out  warrants  in 73 

Early  land  Surveys  in 101 

New  Monuments  along 157-158,  173 

Description  of  locations  of 224-225 

Angles  and  distances  along 263 

Corner  of 282 

George  Palmer’s  line  along 304 

George  Palmer’s  Field-notes  of  Warrant  Surveys  in 310-312 

Webster,  Daniel,  Counsel  in  Case  Rhode  Island  v.  Massachusetts.  150 

Wentz,  William,  Surveyor 105,  114 

Werden,  Sir  John,  letter  to  Governor  Dongan 41 

Western  Reserve  of  Connecticut 193,  428,  429 

Westmoreland,  Town  of,  laid  out 423 

Whipple,  Squire,  Surveyor 114 

Wilderness,  portion  of  Boundary  omitted 127 

in  Tenth  Section 135 

Wilkinson,  James,  Pennsylvania  Commissioner,  to  run  temporary 

line v 67 

Williams,  O.  S.,  Secretary  of  Hamilton  College 175 

Williamson,  Charles,  Agent  for  proprietors  of  land  in  Steuben 

County 114,  416 

Willing  and  Francis  Tract 115 

Willink  Lands  in  Pennsylvania 136 

Corners  of  Warrants  in,  at  Mile  Points 171 

Willink  Strip 117,  417 

Field  notes  of 168 

new  Monuments 247 

Record  of  surveys  along 337 

Willink,  Wilhem,  takes  upland  in  Pennsylvania 109 

and  Jan,  members  of  Holland  Land  Company 116,  417 

Willow  Creek 249,  250 

[Sen.  Doc.  No.  71.]  62 


490 


[Senate  No.  71.] 


PAGE. 

Witness  trees,  description  of  Marks  upon 313 

Wolf  Run 249,  346 

Woolworth,  Samuel  B.,  Secretary  of  the  Joint  Commission  .6,  28,  39 

170,  207,  286 

present  at  Initial  Point,  1877 124 

Biographical  Sketch 289 

Worrall,  James,  Commissioner  from  Pennsylvania  and  Chairman 

of  Joint  Commission 6,  39,  140,  152,  220,  221,  286 

letter  of,  recommending  rectification  of  Boundary 9 

estimate  of  Cost  of  Survey  by 13,  146 

death  of,  referred  to 25,  33,  39 

Biographical  Sketch 288 

Wynkoop  Creek . 232 

York,  Duke  of,  Grant  to  the 40,  403,  407 

quit-claims  to  William  Penn 41 

Agents  of,  apprehensive  of  Penn’s  desires 42 

becomes  King 42 

York  Run 253,  357 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


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